Plan to transform Tamparuli into sustainable rural model

Borneo Post

07-05-2025

Dr Raymond (second from left) with Jaffrin (right) and Chelsea (left).
KOTA KINABALU (May 7): BIMP-EAGA Business Council (BEBC) Sabah chairman Dr Raymond Alfred has proposed a 10-year sustainable and inclusive community development program in Tamparuli, aiming to transform the constituency into a model for green economic growth and digital inclusion in rural Sabah.
The proposal comes following Dr Raymond's participation in a mushroom tissue culture training course at Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), alongside two local youths from Tamparuli, Jaffrin Singkod and Chelsea Drew Apple.
'Tamparuli has extraordinary potential as a hub for green growth and grassroots innovation. We need a long-term, holistic strategy that not only raises the standard of living, but also prepares our communities for future challenges like climate change and the digital economy,' he said.
According to Dr Raymond, the proposed program will be implemented in phases and is expected to require a total investment of RM15 million to RM20 million over 10 years.
It will centre on five core pillars, namely community-based agro-ecotourism rooted in Tamparuli's cultural heritage and natural beauty, high-value crops such as mushrooms and grapes to generate new income streams, entrepreneurship incubators for youth and women in rural areas, community Digital Access Centres (CDACs) to enhance digital literacy and connectivity; and environmental conservation efforts, especially along rivers and hilly terrain.
'We envision Tamparuli as a living example of how rural development can be both sustainable and inclusive where economic progress goes hand in hand with cultural preservation and environmental protection,' he said.
Dr Raymond emphasised that the initiative would only succeed through multi-stakeholder collaboration, involving government agencies, academic institutions, NGOs, the private sector, GLCs, and community-based organisations.
'This is not a top-down plan. It requires the active involvement of the people of Tamparuli, local leaders, and our MP for Tuaran. Everyone must have a role,' he said.
He also expressed appreciation to individuals who helped fund the two Tamparuli participants in the UPM course, saying it marked an important step in building local capacity for innovation.
'That short course opened their eyes and mine to what's possible when knowledge meets opportunity. Now it's time to build on that momentum,' he added.
With this bold proposal, BEBC Sabah hopes to position Tamparuli as a showcase of rural transformation under the BIMP-EAGA framework, a region-wide initiative for economic cooperation in Southeast Asia.
'Tamparuli not only has the potential to rise, but to lead,' Dr Raymond concluded.
The proposed plan is expected to be further refined in the coming months as consultations with stakeholders begin.