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Free Malaysia Today
10-05-2025
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
Sabah revives rice and padi board to enhance self-sufficiency
Sabah chief minister Hajiji Noor said the state government will focus on the development and management of padi cultivation across Kota Marudu, Tuaran, Tambunan, Keningau, Papar and Kota Belud. (Bernama pic) PETALING JAYA : The Sabah government today revived the Sabah Rice and Padi Board (LPBS), aiming to increase the state's rice self-sufficiency level to 30% by next year and 60% by 2030. Chief minister Hajiji Noor said various initiatives will be implemented through the board to enhance food security and meet local demand, while reducing dependence on imported rice. 'Currently, Sabah produces only about 22.8% of its rice needs, resulting in heavy reliance on imports,' Bernama reported him as saying at the launch of LPBS and Agrobank's Padi Planting Takaful Scheme in Kota Belud today. The text of his speech was read by deputy chief minister I and Sabah's agriculture, fisheries and food industry minister Jeffrey Kitingan. Hajiji called on the relevant state agencies to extend their full cooperation to the board, which will take over the development and management of padi cultivation from the agriculture department starting this year, and serve as the regulatory body for both areas moving forward. He said the state government will focus on the development and management of padi cultivation across the key districts of Kota Marudu, Tuaran, Tambunan, Keningau, Papar and Kota Belud, which collectively cover 22,218.35ha, involving 16,018 farmers. The government is also implementing several other initiatives, such as promoting hill padi cultivation and urging hill landowners to utilise their land to cultivate high-quality rice varieties. 'It is estimated that 13,266ha, or 32,767 acres, of hill land are suitable for padi cultivation, involving 15,617 farmers,' he said. If fully developed, these areas have the potential to yield up to 30,424 metric tonnes of hill padi annually.
Free Malaysia Today
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Sabah PKR leaders urge caution on Nurul Izzah vying for no 2 post
Among the Sabah PKR leaders who signed off on the statement were Mustapha Sakmud, who heads the state chapter and the Kota Belud division. PETALING JAYA : The majority of PKR division chiefs in Sabah have urged caution amid calls for Nurul Izzah Anwar to contest the PKR deputy presidency, calling for a risk assessment to be done first before announcing her candidacy. In a statement signed by 21 of the 26 Sabah PKR division chiefs, the leaders said they fully supported Nurul Izzah if she were to contest for the PKR vice-presidency, a post she was appointed to in 2022. 'For the deputy president's post, we are waiting for an official announcement from Nurul Izzah and are ready to support her if such a move will benefit the party's struggle,' they said. The Sabah PKR leaders said they were confident that Nurul Izzah was capable of lifting the party's image among the younger generation and breathing new life into the Reformasi movement. However, they said Nurul Izzah should conduct a thorough risk assessment before announcing her candidacy for the second-highest post in PKR, fearing such a move would destabilise the party. 'We do not want the party to fall into turmoil due to various speculations, which would cause doubt and suspicion to arise (among PKR members). 'We must ensure this party continues to receive the people's support and remains the nation's hope for a better future. 'We must go back to the fundamentals of this party's formation and the idealism of our struggle. 'Sabah will hold its state election soon, so we hope that any decision made would strengthen the party in the eyes of Sabahans and inspire confidence among members and voters.' Among the division chiefs who signed the statement were Mustapha Sakmud, the Sepanggar MP and Sabah PKR chief, and state assistant minister Peto Galim. Numerous top and divisional leaders have stated their support for Nurul Izzah to contest the deputy president's post, which is currently being held by Rafizi Ramli. The wave of support for Nurul Izzah followed Rafizi's leave of absence after the PKR divisional polls which saw the defeat of several bigwigs aligned with him. Rafizi has confirmed that he will defend his PKR deputy presidency, while Nurul Izzah said she would make 'the best decision possible' following calls for her to stand for the post.
