Latest news with #SaaraniMohamad
Free Malaysia Today
a day ago
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
Perak one of M'sia's top durian-producing states last year, says MB
Perak menteri besar Saarani Mohmad said the state is focusing on widening access to its premium kampung durians through branding strategies. (Bernama pic) PETALING JAYA : Perak has emerged as one of the leading durian-producing states in Malaysia, with a production volume of 59,217.3 tonnes worth RM462.28 million in 2024. Menteri besar Saarani Mohamad lauded this as proof of Perak's capability in the durian export market. Saarani said Malaysia exported durians produced in Perak to more than 40 countries between 2017 and 2023, with 73% of the export value concentrated in China. 'In 2022, Malaysia's durian export value reached RM1.14 billion, including RM887 million to China. 'Demand for varieties such as Musang King, Black Thorn, D24, IOI, and premium kampung durians from Perak continues to rise,' Bernama reported him as saying at the closing ceremony of the 2025 Perak Durian Fest at Dataran Selama today. He said Malaysia's durian export value is expected to reach RM1.8 billion by 2030, with an annual growth rate of 20% to 25%. Saarani said Perak's current focus is on widening access to premium kampung durians through branding strategies, quality certification and digital marketing. 'Durians from Perak are also in demand in Singapore, Hong Kong, the US and Australia, with the price of kampung durians from Malaysia reaching RM29 per 600g and Musang King durians being sold for up to RM400 per 2.5kg. 'Some local entrepreneurs are aggressively promoting durian-based products like durian chocolates, durian coffee, durian cakes, instant tempoyak sambal and durian ice cream in markets like China,' he said.
New Straits Times
a day ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
Saarani: State input vital before federal decision on water transfer project
MANJUNG: The state government's input must be considered before any federal decisions are made regarding the water transfer project from Sungai Perak to the Bukit Merah Dam. Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad said this includes identifying the most suitable route for implementation to avoid negative impacts or hardship for local residents. He said engagement sessions would be held between the state and federal governments before the cabinet paper on the project is tabled at a cabinet meeting in August. "We have been informed that the cabinet paper will be submitted by August. So, we request that before it is presented and approved by the cabinet, it should first be discussed with the state government, as we intend to provide our views. "We want to identify a route that will not cause flooding, will not require excessive land acquisition and will not lead to hardships for the public, such as forced relocation," he said. He was speaking to reporters after attending the key handover ceremony for buyers of 60 housing units built under the state government's Rumah Perakku initiative at Taman Perakku Batu 14, Lekir, Sitiawan, today. The housing project was developed with easy financing support and a RM3 million infrastructure subsidy allocated by the state government to ensure the provision of complete basic facilities in the 1.7-hectare housing area. Saarani was responding to a question about the outcome of a meeting he attended with Deputy Prime Minister and Energy Transition and Water Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof at the Parliament building in Kuala Lumpur yesterday, which discussed the project. He said the raw water transfer project needs to be expedited due to declining water levels at the Bukit Merah dam in Kerian, caused by annual hot and dry weather, which affects crop irrigation and future industrial development. "We understand that constraints at the federal level include the need to secure funding and complete other processes. Our meeting with the ministry was primarily to determine the best route. "The state government wishes to provide our input to ensure the project benefits multiple stakeholders, particularly farmers in northern Perak, the Kerian Integrated Green Industrial Park (KIGIP) and to meet the water supply demands of Penang. "We take into account that, barring any obstacles, KIGIP is expected to be completed by the end of 2028 and begin operations in January 2029. "But our main priority is resolving the irrigation issue for farmers in northern Perak," he said. On Monday, Saarani called on the federal government to expedite the Sungai Perak–Bukit Merah water transfer project, citing recurring droughts and the current infeasibility of cloud seeding operations. In June 2024, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced that the government had, in principle, agreed to approve funding for the implementation of the raw water distribution project from Sungai Perak to the Bukit Merah dam. The project, intended to supply treated water to northern Perak and Penang, is estimated to cost RM4 billion.
Barnama
4 days ago
- Business
- Barnama
Perak Wants Sungai Perak- Tasik Bukit Merah Water Transfer Project Expedited
IPOH, July 21 (Bernama) — The Perak government has urged the Federal Government to expedite the implementation of the water transfer project from Sungai Perak to Tasik Bukit Merah to address water supply shortages, especially during the dry season. Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad said the project is not only crucial for solving paddy field irrigation problems in northern Perak but also for meeting the demand for clean water to support the development of the Integrated Rubber Industrial Area (KIGIP). 'Previously, our request for this project (water from Sungai Perak to Tasik Bukit Merah) was specifically to resolve irrigation issues for paddy fields in the north of Perak. 'However, now it's not just about that. The purpose of this project also includes supporting the construction of a new water treatment plant (WTP), enabling us to supply water for KIGIP's use, for people in northern Perak, and any surplus can be sold to Penang,' he said. He was speaking to reporters at a press conference after attending the fifth edition of the 2025 Customer Day Programme at Stadium Indera Mulia here today. According to a report on July 15 in Utusan, Pertubuhan Persaudaraan Pesawah Malaysia (Pesawah) Deputy Chairman Azhar Hashim called on the government to expedite the project's implementation to ensure adequate water supply for agricultural purposes, particularly paddy cultivation. Commenting on the proposed cloud seeding operation in the area, Saarani said the matter needs to be referred to the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) and the National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA), as it depends on technical factors such as wind direction and cloud formation. 'For now, the Meteorological Department has advised that this is not the right time because of unpredictable wind directions which may affect whether the rain will fall into Tasik Bukit Merah. We don't want the effort to be in vain,' he said. He added that, for now, farmers in the affected areas have to rely on water supply from nearby rivers managed by the Muda Agricultural Development Authority (IADA) as a temporary measure.
New Straits Times
4 days ago
- Climate
- New Straits Times
Perak wants federal action on Sungai Perak-Bukit Merah water project
IPOH: The state government has called on the federal government to expedite the water transfer project from Sungai Perak to Bukit Merah Lake, citing recurring droughts and the current infeasibility of cloud seeding operations. Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad said the state is ready to play a more active role in tackling ongoing water shortages, particularly those affecting northern Perak's agricultural zones. "We really hope the federal government will be able to accelerate the process. Initially, our request was specifically to solve irrigation issues in the northern part of Perak. "But with the establishment of KIGIP (Kerian Integrated Green Industrial Park), and with requests coming from Penang, the project was packaged together. "So now, it's not just about transferring water from Sungai Perak to Bukit Merah, but also about supplying water to a treatment plant," he said. He was speaking to reporters after attending the Perak State Government's 2025 Mesra Customer Engagement Programme at Stadium Indera Mulia, here. He added that the project would ensure a clean water supply for residents in northern Perak, with any surplus to be sold as treated water to Penang. "The project was packaged as a whole, but we are urging the federal government to speed it up, because we face the same problem every year," he said. Saarani said that cloud seeding is currently not viable due to unfavorable weather patterns and technical constraints, such as unpredictable wind directions. "In 2022, cloud seeding was carried out in the Bukit Merah area, but the rain fell in residential areas instead of the targeted reservoir. "That happened because of wind direction. The rain didn't fall into the Bukit Merah reservoir, it ended up on people's homes, and understandably, they were angry," he said. He added that the National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA) has reportedly begun evaluating whether cloud seeding is viable under current conditions but, the Meteorological Department has advised against it. "They say it's not suitable now because they can't determine whether the rain will fall in the intended area, especially over Bukit Merah Lake. We don't want to waste resources on something that won't work," he said. When asked how the state government would assist farmers if cloud seeding could not be conducted, Saarani said the state is turning to alternative water sources, including rivers that still have flow. "The alternative water supply initiative is currently being tapped to support affected areas," he said. According to data from the Perak Department of Irrigation and Drainage (JPS), the reservoir has reached Irrigation Critical Level 3, with water levels now 6.1 meter.
Malay Mail
4 days ago
- Climate
- Malay Mail
Unpredictable winds rule out cloud seeding for Bukit Merah lake, other fixes sought to address low water levels
IPOH, July 21 — Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad said it is not the right time to carry out cloud seeding despite the rapidly falling water level at Bukit Merah Dam, which now threatens nearby padi fields due to the prolonged dry weather. Saarani said that the current wind conditions are too unpredictable, which could result in rainfall missing the targeted area. 'I've been informed that the Meteorological Department has advised against conducting cloud seeding at this time because the wind direction is uncertain. 'They cannot confirm whether the rain will fall into Bukit Merah Lake. If it doesn't, the effort would be in vain,' he said at a press conference after attending the Meet the Customers' Day programme at Stadium Indera Mulia here. Saarani added that the state government is cautious not to repeat the mistake made in 2022, when cloud seeding resulted in rainfall over residential areas instead of the Bukit Merah reservoir, leading to public dissatisfaction. 'For that reason, we can't simply proceed with cloud seeding without expert advice from technical departments and relevant ministries, including the Meteorological Department. 'I was also informed that the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) has taken the initiative to assess whether cloud seeding is currently feasible,' he said. Saarani said the state government is now focusing on alternative measures, such as channeling water from nearby rivers that have not yet dried up. He also expressed hope that the Federal Government would expedite the project to divert water directly from the Perak River to Bukit Merah Lake. 'This is a very technical issue, and the problem of drying dams and rivers occurs almost every year. We sincerely hope the Federal Government can accelerate the project. 'Initially, the request was solely to resolve irrigation issues in northern Perak. But after Penang submitted a similar request, the entire initiative was bundled together. 'So now, it's not just about diverting water from the Perak River to Bukit Merah, but also about establishing a Water Treatment Plant to provide clean water to residents in northern Perak, with the surplus to be sold as treated water to Penang,' he said. It was reported that persistent heat and lack of consistent rainfall over the past few months has caused the areas surrounding the dam to become dry and barren. The situation has also affected padi fields, which have dried up due to the drought, while local inland fishermen have been forced to halt operations as their boats are now stranded and unable to reach open water.
