Sabah to revive rice production in food security push, says CM
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah is reactivating efforts to boost local food production, including rice farming, as part of a broader push for food security.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor announced the initiative at the state-level Kaamatan celebration, saying the festival serves as a timely reminder of the importance of agriculture.
'As we celebrate Kaamatan, we must also reflect on the significance of agriculture in our lives — especially padi farming, which has long been a symbol of our people's resilience,' he said in his speech during the launching ceremony of Pesta Kaamatan 2025 at the Hongkod Koisaan hall, on Friday (May 30).
Hajiji said the state government is committed to strengthening Sabah's food supply chain by revitalising initiatives to increase local rice output and reduce reliance on imported food.
These include the reactivation of the Sabah Paddy and Rice Board to improve the state's self-sufficiency level (SSL), with the aim of achieving 30% rice SSL by next year and 60% by 2030.
'These efforts are not just about economic sustainability — they are also about preserving our culture and heritage that revolve around rice and farming traditions,' he said.
He added that the government is also focusing on improving the rural economy through modern agriculture, community-based tourism, and support for small and medium enterprises (SMEs), under the Sabah Maju Jaya development blueprint.
Hajiji stressed that strong cooperation with the Federal Government would be crucial in ensuring that the state's development policies translate into tangible benefits for the people.
'I am confident that our close relationship with the federal government will help accelerate the success of our state development agenda,' he said.
Beyond agriculture, Hajiji also emphasised that Kaamatan serves as a unifying force for Sabah's multicultural society, bringing people together in the spirit of harmony, respect, and mutual appreciation.
'This festival is a reflection of our unity in diversity — Kaamatan belongs to everyone, and through it, we celebrate not only the harvest but also the values of togetherness that bind us as Sabahans,' he said.
He also noted that this year's Kaamatan marks the 65th celebration since its official introduction in 1960, with the theme 'Kaamatan Untuk Semua, Kaamatan For All, Kaamatan Montok Toinsanan'.
The Chief Minister thanked Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for gracing the celebration, calling his presence 'a meaningful gesture of support for Sabah's culture, people and aspirations.'
Kaamatan, also known as the Harvest Festival, is an annual cultural event celebrated by the Kadazan Dusun and Murut communities and has grown to reflect the state's broader multicultural identity.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
17 minutes ago
- The Star
Good relations between leaders ensure development, says Ewon
KOTA KINABALU: Good relations between assemblymen and government leaders are beneficial, says Penampang MP Datuk Ewon Benedick. He said that close relations between both parties help ensure continued development and smooth organisation of programmes for the people, as seen in Penampang over the years. He then added that the same applies to other districts with amicable working relations with government leaders, ensuring development and policies for those constituencies are achieved. Benedick made these remarks at the Kepayan Kaamatan Festival on Sunday (June 1), attended by leaders including Kepayan assemblyman Jannie Lasimbang and PH leaders Steven Shim, Datuk Phoong Jin Zhe, Datuk Chan Foong Hin, Vivian Wong, and Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii. "Each time there is an issue that needs attention in Kepayan, I will sit with the assemblyman to find solutions. We do not work in silos but as a team," he said. He mentioned that some ongoing projects in Penampang include the flood mitigation project, Terian-Buayan road upgrading, bridge construction in Babagon, and the PANTAS programme in Kg. Togudon. A Penampang Development Plan 2024-2035 is also included in the proposals for the 13th Malaysia Plan (RMK13), Benedick added. "I am confident that with these strategic plans and work relations among various parties, including the federal and state governments, Penampang will continue to receive better allocations and development benefits in RMK13," he said. Many economic and development initiatives have been implemented in Penampang, including the National Entrepreneurship Institute (INSKEN), Tekun Nasional, and the Tamu Desa project. On Kaamatan, Benedick said the festival is celebrated by people from all cultural and social backgrounds, in line with the 'Kaamatan for All' theme chosen for this year.
The Star
6 hours ago
- The Star
Perak to grow onions in more districts
Domestic crop: Perak cultivates Malaysia's first commercially produced onion. GOPENG: The silver state, which has begun branding its commercial onion cultivation as 'Perak onions', will expand farming to three more districts with a further RM1.4mil allocation from the Federal Government. Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad said the pilot project started in the Batang Padang district last year. This would be expanded to the Kuala Kangsar, Muallim and Perak Tengah districts. Perak has the distinction of pioneering Malaysia's first commercially produced onion. Saarani said 'Perak onions' are found to be tasty and sweet. 'This makes them attractive to buyers,' he told reporters at the closing of the Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (Fama) Fest 2025 at the Rural Transformation Centre here yesterday. Also present was Deputy Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Arthur Joseph Kurup. Saarani said the state would identify the areas that meet the criteria for growing onions. 'The crop requires fertile soil so that it can produce good yields,' he added. Saarani said it was important to ensure the districts have suitable land because onions require the right type of soil to grow quality produce. 'Even though they can be planted anywhere, we need to find the most suitable land because that is what will yield good onions,' he added. Arthur, in his speech, said one of the most commendable achievements is the successful production of Perak onions. He said this success is the result of a collaborative effort between the Agriculture Department and the Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute. 'Thus, the ministry has allocated an additional RM1.4mil to Perak to expand the cultivation area for onions this year,' he said. It was reported in April last year that Perak was the first state in Malaysia to harvest around 2.3 tonnes of the BW1 onions at a site in Kampung Ladang Bikam. Perak is reported to be one of six states that will be the main producer of BW1 onions for domestic consumption. On the Fama Fest, Saarani said he was pleased there had been an increase in participants with more products, more young agropreneurs and higher sales. 'As I mention often, my slogan for Perak is 'plant what we want to eat, eat what we plant, the surplus can be sold or donated.'' 'The goal is to encourage more people in Perak to take up farming, so that we don't have to depend on imports. 'Sometimes we have to wait for chilies from abroad. When our currency drops, prices go up. And sometimes we wait for vegetables or meat from overseas. 'This makes us Malaysians dependent on agricultural products from other countries and that is not good,' he said. Saarani also spoke about the impact of global happenings such as the Covid-19 pandemic, the Ukraine-Russia war and how prices of onions soared in India when it went through severe weather conditions. As such, he said it is important for Malaysians, especially for the people of Perak, to get involved in farming.
Free Malaysia Today
17 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Halt Sabah tax collection until revenue sharing sorted, says Yong
SAPP president Yong Teck Lee said the federal government should not delay making annual payments of at least RM2 billion to Sabah. (Facebook pic) PETALING JAYA : Tax collection should be suspended in Sabah until the state receives its full entitlement of net shared revenue, says Yong Teck Lee, a deputy chairman of the ruling GRS coalition. Yong, a former chief minister, said Sabah continues to miss out on its share of revenue to which it is entitled under the constitution. He said this year's RM600 million special grant from Putrajaya, though an increase from previous years, was 'a figure plucked out from nowhere'. 'We call on the federal government to honour the 40% net revenue entitlement without further delay,' Yong said in a statement. 'Until then, tax enforcement in Sabah should be re-evaluated, paused if necessary, and guided by consultation with the Sabah government and Sabah business organisations.' Yong, who is president of the Sabah Progressive Party, also questioned Kota Kinabalu City Hall's partnership with the Inland Revenue Board (LHDN) to identify inactive taxpayers in Sabah, arguing that these were mostly petty traders and not big-time tax evaders. He said enforcing tax compliance as petty traders battled rising costs and the people's declining purchasing power would only damage the local economy. 'DBKK should stop aligning with federal LHDN enforcement while the billions owed to this region remain unpaid. It should stop playing the role of federal tax collector to hunt down the so-called inactive tax payers.' Yong said LHDN recently announced it had collected RM5.7 billion in taxes from Sabah last year, and hoped to collect RM6.2 billion in 2025. He said the amount was equal to an average of RM6 billion in taxes collected in these two years, of which 40% would amount to RM2.4 billion. 'There is absolutely no reason for the federal government to delay making annual payments of at least RM2 billion to the Sabah government,' said Yong. The revenue sharing formula has been a contentious issue for decades. Sabah politicians have called for the federal government to honour Sabah's entitlement to 40% of the amount which exceeds the net revenue derived in 1963. Use of the formula has been suspended since 1974, with the federal government paying increased special grants to Sabah and Sarawak. The Sabah Law Society has been granted leave to pursue a judicial review of the state's revenue entitlement, with the case to be heard on July 7.
