23-05-2025
Warisan wants cooking oil effort revived
Published on: Friday, May 23, 2025
Published on: Fri, May 23, 2025 Text Size: Wong emphasised that Bess Cooking Oil, for example, was priced at only RM21.25 per bottle shows that it was a clear demonstration that Sabah has the capacity to control its own supply chain and offer better choices to its people. Kota Kinabalu: Warisan Vice President Datuk Junz Wong has called for the revival of Sabah's once-successful cooking oil industry, urging renewed efforts towards economic self-sufficiency through value-added industries. Speaking as a panellist at the Reset Sabah: Economy forum held on May 10, Wong said the success of the Warisan government's edible oil initiative, which for the first time enabled Sabah to produce and market its own locally refined cooking oil brands, 'Bess, Gold and Onsoi'. 'This was not just a plan on paper. It was implemented under the Warisan administration. We made history by launching Sabah's own cooking oil, refined and packaged locally and sold at a much more affordable price compared to West Malaysian products,' he said. He emphasised that Bess Cooking Oil, for example, was priced at only RM21.25 per bottle shows that it was a clear demonstration that Sabah has the capacity to control its own supply chain and offer better choices to its people. 'The initiative was part of Warisan's broader vision to industrialise Sabah and reduce dependency on the Peninsula by encouraging local businesses to invest in downstream processing of palm oil. 'The goal was to build a full value chain from plantation to refinery to branding, right here in Sabah. It was a bold step towards economic autonomy,' he said.
Advertisement He also emphasised that reviving and expanding the local edible oil industry would bring many benefits, including more affordable, higher-quality products for the locals also lower production and transportation costs for local businesses. Besides, job creation and economic growth in both rural and urban areas also enhanced supply chain resilience and greater economic sovereignty for the State. 'Warisan's vision was always clear, which is to industrialise Sabah, not just talk about it. We have proven it can be done and once we are back in government, we will do it again and push it even further,' Wong said. He said Sabah must move beyond exporting raw materials and start producing more finished goods locally. 'We must stop being just resource providers and start being value creators. That is how we build a strong and self-reliant Sabah, by keeping the economic value here, for the people of Sabah.' * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available.
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