Latest news with #PPESTernakSdnBhd
Borneo Post
3 days ago
- Health
- Borneo Post
S'wak's first veterinary institute in Semenggok set to address vet shortage in state
Dr Rundi speaks to reporters at the PPES Ternak Sdn Bhd Halal Abattoir Complex. – Photo by Chimon Upon KUCHING (June 5): Sarawak's first-ever veterinary institute is now in its final stages of planning and approval, marking a significant milestone in the state's push to strengthen its livestock and animal health services. State Minister for Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom said the veterinary school, which will be located in Semenggok, is a crucial step in addressing the chronic shortage of veterinarians in the state. 'We only have 15 veterinarians in Sarawak. I went to Brazil – they have 4,000 there. 'So bear with us because we are doing our best (to address the shortage),' he said when met during a working visit to the PPES Ternak Sdn Bhd Halal Abattoir Complex in Siburan, here today. Dr Rundi revealed that the establishment of the veterinary institute is in collaboration with Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), particularly through its Bintulu campus, following in-principle agreement with the university. According to him, having a dedicated veterinary faculty in Sarawak will allow the state to train its own experts and reduce reliance on external manpower, especially from neighbouring countries. Nevertheless, he said Sarawak in the short term may still need to source veterinarians from Indonesia or Peninsular Malaysia to make up for the current shortage. He also noted that once operational, the Semenggok-based institute will be able to produce around 50 veterinary graduates annually, greatly enhancing the state's capacity to provide animal healthcare and support its growing agriculture sector. Dr Rundi also informed that he, together with Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg, have been invited to an event with UPM at the end of this month. 'There, we will officially take on UPM Bintulu as Sarawak's UPM. Even the Sultan of Selangor, who is UPM Chancellor, has shown strong support for this initiative,' he said. He said with UPM Sarawak in place, the accreditation process for the institute will be much easier. 'In principle, we've more or less finalised everything. We are working on the financing and other logistics.' The plan to establish such an institute in Sarawak was first discussed as early as 2022, with the state government viewing it as a key priority to improve food security, zoonotic disease control, and workforce development in animal-related industries. Dr Rundi said with neighbouring Sabah having more veterinarians than Sarawak, it became clear that Sarawak needed to build its own capacity to match and eventually improve its veterinary services. The new institute, when completed, will be only the third of its kind in Malaysia after UPM Serdang and Universiti Malaysia Kelantan, and the first such faculty in Borneo. It will offer both Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) and Diploma in Animal Health and Husbandry (DKHP) programmes, with an expected intake of 50 and 70 students respectively each year. 'This is not just about numbers. Once we have our own university and institute, we can plan for what Sarawak truly needs in forestry, agriculture, and manpower. 'We take control of our future,' said Dr Rundi. Also present during the visit were Dr Rundi's deputy minister Datuk Martin Ben, and Sarawak Economic Development Corporation chairman Tan Sri Datuk Amar Abdul Aziz Husain. Dr Stephen Rundi Utom lead semenggok veterinary institute
Borneo Post
3 days ago
- Business
- Borneo Post
Dr Rundi: Livestock sector transformation key to building S'wak's sustainable agro-economy, boost SSL
(From second left) Dr Rundi, Abdul Aziz and other officials inspect the finished products during their stop at the Sara-Bif corned beef factory. – Photo by Chimon Upon KUCHING (June 5): Sarawak is setting its sights on transforming its livestock sector into a fully integrated halal agro-industry with ambitions that extend well beyond achieving self-sufficiency, said Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom. The Minister of Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development said the state's ongoing development of a complete livestock supply chain from upstream production to downstream processing is key to building a sustainable agro-economy. 'This is part of our ability to create a complete supply chain. We've tried many schemes and our target is to produce 60,000 head of cattle by 2030, which will bring our self-sufficiency level (SSL) for beef and related meat products up to 25 per cent. 'Sarawak's current SSL stands at around 16 per cent, up from 13 per cent previously,' he told reporters during a working visit to the PPES Ternak Sdn Bhd Halal Abattoir Complex in Siburan, here today. He said the Halal Abattoir Complex has already started producing cornmeal and other downstream products, while efforts to diversify Sarawak's livestock offerings are taking shape in regions such as Lawas, where mozzarella cheese production is expected to begin by the end of the year. Plans are also in motion to expand production of halal canned corned beef using Sarawak black pepper, targeting both domestic and export markets, he added. Dr Rundi further stressed the importance for agencies under his ministry to continue working together to ensure the agricultural sector becomes sustainable, by building market access into every production plan. 'The reason we're facing problems in agriculture is because we've never had a complete supply chain. People are willing to plant or raise livestock, but the market is often uncertain and that must change,' he said. The visit to the PPES Ternak Sdn Bhd Halal Abattoir Complex, a wholly owned subsidiary of Sarawak Economic Development Corporation (SEDC), reflects the government's continued commitment to strengthening the state's long-term food security. It also aimed to provide Dr Rundi with a firsthand understanding of PPES Ternak's integrated supply chain operations – from feedlot farming to meat processing – and assess its strategic contributions to Sarawak's overall food ecosystem. A statement issued by Dr Rundi's ministry in conjunction with the visit said the programme featured a detailed tour of PPES Ternak's core facilities, including the Siburan Halal Abattoir Complex, corned beef processing factory, and the feedlot centre. 'All facilities are certified under Halal, MESTI, and HACCP standards, reflecting the company's dedication to producing high-quality, hygienic, and traceable meat products for local and regional markets. 'This engagement also underscored the importance of increasing Sarawak's cattle SSL to reduce reliance on imported meat,' said the ministry, adding that it recognises the vital role of PPES Ternak in supporting the state's Post Covid-19 Development Strategy 2030 and helping position Sarawak as a regional food hub. 'The visit reaffirms the state government's commitment to working closely with industry stakeholders to ensure that every household in Sarawak has access to safe, affordable, and sustainably sourced protein which is a cornerstone of building a resilient and food-secure future for the state,' it added. Accompanying Dr Rundi during the visit were his deputy minister Datuk Martin Ben and SEDC chairman Tan Sri Datuk Amar Abdul Aziz Husain. agro-industry Dr Stephen Rundi Utom livestock self sufficiency
