Sarawakians urged to embrace circular economy
KUCHING (May 26): Sarawakians are urged to adopt a circular economy approach when organising cultural and community events.
In making the call, Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development Minister Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom emphasised the importance of resourcefulness and waste reduction while showcasing cultural heritage during these events.
'When Gawai Dayak is around the corner, we look forward to the Gawai Dayak Bazaar, just as we do with the Ramadan Bazaars when Hari Raya Aidilfitri approaches.
'Rather than simply waiting for these events, we should see them as a significant game changers that encourage us to change our mindset and reduce waste in everything we do,' he said in his speech during the Gawai Dayak Bazaar 2025 closing ceremony at MJC Batu Kawa here last night.
Dr Rundi encouraged Sarawakians to find value in their efforts by monetising their talents, produce, and even waste, citing Sarawak Land Consolidation and Rehabilitation Authority (Salcra) as an example where biomass is converted into valuable products such as animal feed, fertiliser, and renewable energy.
'All these were once waste materials, discarded products with no value. Now, they are being converted into dollars and cents,' he said.
He also highlighted the importance of understanding the Post Covid-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030 as a roadmap for Sarawak's recovery and future growth.
By recognising its five key pillars, Sarawakians can contribute effectively to the state's sustainable development goals.
'We must each play our part and uphold environmental, social, and governance standards to ensure Sarawak is recognised for its commitment to green energy,' he said.
Meanwhile, Dr Rundi announced that the Gawai Dayak Bazaar 2025 at MJC Batu Kawa had recorded sales exceeding RM1 million over its 10-day duration.
Also present were Deputy Minister in the Premier's Department Datuk Gerawat Gala; Food Industry, Commodity, and Regional Development Deputy Minister Datuk Martin Ben; Utility and Telecommunication Deputy Minister Datuk Liwan Lagang; Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development Deputy Minister Datuk Gerald Rentap Jabu; Telang Usan assemblyman Dato Dennis Ngau; Batu Danau assemblyman Datuk Paulus Palu Gumbang, who is also the Gawai Dayak Bazaar 2025 committee chairman; along with other distinguished guests. circular economy Dr Stephen Rundi Utom events Gawai Dayak Bazaar 2025 lead
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Borneo Post
18 hours ago
- Borneo Post
13MP should address S'wak's unique development needs, autonomy rights, says Kota Sentosa rep
Yap says the just-tabled 13MP should provide a clear roadmap for devolution of power to Sarawak in key areas such as education, healthcare, and infrastructure. – Photo by Chimon Upon KUCHING (Aug 3): A Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP) lawmaker has raised concerns about the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) reflecting centralised decision-making in Putrajaya, with insufficient Sarawakian input. In stating this, Kota Sentosa assemblyman Wilfred Yap said the just-tabled 13MP should provide a clear roadmap for devolution of power to Sarawak in key areas such as education, healthcare, and infrastructure. 'True progress requires statutory guarantees for need-based funding, not population-based allocations. 'Transparent project implementation with direct Sarawakian oversight is essential,' he said in a statement. Yap, in acknowledging the government's commitments to infrastructure and socio-economic growth, also expressed concerns over the continued use of outdated funding formulae based on per capita distribution. 'This does not reflect Sarawak's actual development needs. 'Sarawak covers 37.6 per cent of Malaysia's landmass, yet our low population density means that federal funding is still benchmarked against headcount, rather than real development needs. 'A kilometre of road in Sarawak, especially in the rural and interior areas, costs exponentially more to construct and maintain than in one in Peninsular Malaysia due to terrains, logistics and climate conditions (in Sarawak).' Yap argued that the current one-size-fits-all funding model failed to take into account Sarawak's unique challenges including severe infrastructure gaps, high construction costs, and underdevelopment stemming from years of federal oversight. He thus called for a funding formula that would be adjusted based on landmass and actual development gaps, ensuring that Sarawak would receive allocations proportional to its size, economic contributions, and local needs. 'Sarawak has bankrolled Malaysia\'s growth through its vast oil and gas resources, yet the returns to Sarawak remain disproportionately low. 'While billions have flowed into federal coffers, many Sarawakians still lack basic infrastructure that should have been addressed decades ago.' Yap also urged the federal government to honour the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) and the 18-Point Agreement, meant to guarantee Sarawak greater autonomy over resources, finances, and governance. 'These are legally binding promises, not privileges,' he emphasised. 13MP autonomy lead Wilfred Yap
The Star
3 days ago
- The Star
Sarawak business group hails 13MP aims to boost state growth, clean energy
KUCHING: The core elements of the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) are aligned with Sarawak's goals of accelerating growth under its post-Covid development strategy, says the Dayak Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI). Its secretary general Libat Langub ( pic ) welcomed the special emphasis on elevating Sabah and Sarawak as Malaysia's competitive regional hubs for sustainable energy. "The initiative includes the development of the Sarawak Hydrogen Hub, aimed at strengthening the energy infrastructure in Sarawak. "This demonstrates the Federal Government's commitment and recognition of Sarawak's significant role in national investments and that Sarawak is poised to realise the country's vision of becoming a high-value regional clean energy leader," he said on Friday (Aug 1). Libat said the energy hubs were expected to create new high-value jobs for Sarawakians. "We hope the Dayak business community will actively look for and participate in business opportunities generated by new industries from these energy hubs," he said. As an indigenous business chamber, DCCI also supported the strengthening of socioeconomic development for Sarawak's bumiputra community under the 13MP. This includes expanding business opportunities through the provision of commercial premises, access to financing, entrepreneurship training and mentoring programmes to Sarawak bumiputra entrepreneurs. "In this connection, we urge the government to ensure that access to these business opportunities reaches the targeted group and benefits them. 'A multi-faceted approach involving government initiatives, dedicated programmes and structural support is crucial," Libat said. He proposed the implementation of outreach strategies to identify and engage potential bumiputra entrepreneurs, particularly in Sarawak's rural areas, as well as monitoring and evaluation of programmes to benefit them. "Skills training programmes for rural communities must be intensified so that economic growth can be shared inclusively," he added. Libat also said the 13MP's focus on basic infrastructure such as roads, water supply, electricity and digitalisation initiatives was timely and much needed to balance development between urban and rural areas. "Improved road connectivity is a game-changer for rural development in Sarawak, promising substantial economic and social benefits," he said.
Borneo Post
6 days ago
- Borneo Post
Dr Rundi: Sarawak's agricultural future lies in tech adoption, export drive
Dr Rundi speaks during the groundbreaking ceremony for the Sungai Sebiew Precision Farming Park today. BINTULU (July 28): Sarawak is accelerating its drive to become a net food exporter through the integration of smart farming and Internet of Things (IoT) technology, with the Sungai Sebiew Precision Farming Park set to become a model for sustainable, technology-driven agriculture in the state. Minister of Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom said the 13-hectare site will focus on high-quality production using modern precision farming methods instead of traditional practices. 'It's not about the size of the land, but the quality of the products. With smart farming using IoT, we can increase productivity, improve efficiency and ensure sustainability,' he said during a press conference after officiating the groundbreaking ceremony for the precision farming park today. The project, which has been in planning since 2022, has now been awarded to a contractor who has already begun site-clearing works. Dr Rundi, who is the Sarawak Land Development Board (SLDB) chairman, said lessons learned from previous pilot projects such as in Rampangi would be improved and applied in Sungai Sebiew. He acknowledged the challenges of attracting youth to agriculture, which is often viewed as a physically demanding and unappealing sector. 'We can no longer rely on muscle and sweat. Most of our current farmers are ageing, and young people are reluctant to work under the sun. But agriculture today is no longer the 3Ds – dangerous, difficult and dirty. It's digital,' he said. He added with IoT, farming can be done remotely, allowing people to monitor their farms from home. Dr Rundi stressed that this is the kind of modern approach that the government wants local agropreneurs to adopt. He emphasised the importance of understanding the objective of technological adoption among farmers. 'Farmers must understand why we are doing this and what the technology is for. It's not about forcing them, we want them to take the initiative, because only then will they commit to making it sustainable,' he said. He said the state's long-term agricultural strategy is moving away from subsistence and shifting cultivation to commercialisation, agro-tourism, and value-added activities to boost income. He also highlighted Sarawak's recent success in exporting live pigs to Peninsular Malaysia. 'Just a few days ago, we sent our first shipment of 800 live pigs to Selangor, valued at about RM1.38 million. One pig is worth roughly RM1,700,' he said. He said Sarawak is also exporting to Singapore and receiving inquiries from Johor and Penang for livestock and aquaculture products such as poultry, fish, and shrimp. 'The potential is huge. We want Sarawak to be a hub for net food exports. But this can only happen if we are willing to adopt and adapt to new technologies,' he said. Drawing a comparison, Dr Rundi pointed to Taiwan as an inspiring model. 'Taiwan is much smaller than Sarawak and has 75 per cent mountainous terrain, yet they are a net food exporter. If they can do it, so can we. But we must be willing to learn, adapt, and innovate,' he said. Dr Rundi also noted the urgency of reducing Sarawak's food import-export deficit, which was RM5.6 billion in 2022, and remains substantial. 'We import too much, animal feed, raw materials these are areas where we must cut dependency. That's why the agriculture sector needs to evolve and improve to generate better revenue for Sarawak,' he stressed. He called for a collaborative approach between researchers, policymakers, and farmers to continuously innovate and strengthen Sarawak's agricultural resilience. The Sungai Sebiew Precision Farming Park is expected to become a catalyst for future smart agriculture developments across Sarawak, tailored to the topography, land suitability, and community capabilities in each region. 'This is the way forward if we want to secure our future and realise Sarawak's dream of becoming a net food exporter,' said Dr Rundi. First conceptualised and announced in 2022, the Sungai Sebiew Precision Farming Park represents SLDB's commitment to bridging the gap between traditional agriculture and modern agri-tech. Following thorough planning, inter-agency coordination, and regulatory compliance, the project now officially enters the implementation phase. The site will be developed into a smart agricultural hub equipped with 11 units of IoT-enabled greenhouses, a nursery and seedling propagation area, post-harvest preparation and handling zones, and an IoT command centre to monitor and manage real-time farm operations. The project will be developed over a period of 18 months, and once completed, will be operated by a private investor under a Public-Private Partnership model. The operator will also offer training, technology transfer, and contract farming opportunities to local participants, making this a community-integrated agricultural platform. This initiative directly supports Sarawak's agenda for smart farming adoption, youth agropreneurship development and economic empowerment of rural communities. Dr Stephen Rundi Utom lead precision farming
