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SST expansion underscores urgent need for S'wak to boost local food production, says Dr Rundi
Dr Rundi (third left) presents the certificate to retired DoA agriculture officer Gilbert Igi on stage, witnessed by Dr Abdul Rahman (second left), Martin (third right) and Dominic.
KUCHING (June 18): The upcoming expansion of the Sales and Service Tax (SST) on imported food should prompt greater urgency in boosting Sarawak's local food production and achieving food self-sufficiency, said State Food Industry, Commodity, and Regional Development Minister, Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom.
Rather than focusing solely on taxation measures, he stressed the importance of long-term planning and innovation to strengthen the state's food security amid rising global uncertainties, including conflicts, climate change, and disruptions in global supply chains.
'These are the things that we have to think outside the box about. SST is one aspect, but our real focus must be on how to increase our local food sector,' he told reporters when met after officiating the Department of Agriculture (DoA) Sarawak Appreciation Ceremony here today.
He noted that Sarawak currently faces a growing food import-export deficit, which rose from RM5.6 billion in 2022 to RM7.6 billion in 2023.
'So that means we have to be prepared, and we have to produce using our raw materials to create animal feed and plant the various crops.
'Our ancestors had to survive on sago and tapioca during World War II and we do not want to return to that kind of survival mode,' he said.
Highlighting rice as a key concern, Dr Rundi pointed out that Malaysia's self-sufficiency level (SSL) for rice stands at only 32 per cent.
'Can you imagine, 68 per cent of our rice has to come from countries like Vietnam and India? If these major exporters stop exporting, we will be in deep trouble.
'That is why we are so serious about planting paddy,' he said.
The minister revealed that Sarawak has a master plan in place to raise food production, including initiatives to develop hybrid rice varieties capable of producing up to 15 metric tonnes per hectare.
Land identification and gazettement for food crop cultivation are also being undertaken with the help of the Land and Survey Department, with areas in Limbang and Lawas already gazetted for paddy, he said.
On the role of farmers, Dr Rundi said it is crucial to shift from the traditional view of subsistence farming towards a business-oriented approach.
'We no longer talk about SSL in isolation. We talk about business – profit and loss.
'That is why we created the e-Tani platform, to ensure assistance is targeted according to the farmer's main activity,' he said.
Using a rural anecdote, Dr Rundi recalled witnessing how residents at a longhouse were once given fingerlings for fish farming but unfortunately did not have the knowledge to manage them.
'All 30 doors of the longhouse were given the fingerlings, but they did not know what to do with them. That's a waste.
'So, we must move away from blanket assistance. The farmers must give us the feedback and tell us what they need, not what we think they need. Then they can see the impact,' he stressed.
Earlier, Dr Rundi presented certificates to Excellence Service Award (APC) recipients as well as Certificates of Recognition to some retirees from DoA Sarawak.
A total of 151 officers and staff from the department received APC awards, while retirees were celebrated for their service.
Also present were State Deputy Food Industry, Commodity, and Regional Development Ministers Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Ismail and Datuk Martin Ben, and DoA Sarawak director Dominic Chunggat. dr stephen rundi lead local food production SST expansion
