Better Padawan through services, tourism, agriculture – CM

KUCHING: Padawan Municipal Council (MPP) should place emphasis on the services, tourism and agriculture sectors for the betterment of the municipality, said Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg.

He said these three sectors gave MPP an extra advantage over the city’s two local councils, Kuching North City Commission (DBKU) and Kuching South City Council (MBKS).

“The services sector is the common platform among the three councils but MPP has the potential in the agriculture and tourism sectors,” he said when officiating at MPP’s 24th anniversary celebration yesterday.

The celebration, held at the parking lot of Kota Padawan Mall, was attended by Local Government and Housing Minister Dato Sri Dr Sim Kui Hian, MPP chairman Lo Khere Chiang and others.

Abang Johari said in terms of agriculture, MPP could collaborate with Sarawak Agriculture Department on managing the sector under the council.

“When you talk about agriculture, it has to be technologybased agriculture and it does not necessarily have to be done on a big plot of land.

“For instance, the Bidayuh community with sizeable native customary rights (NCR) land can make use of Internet of Things to produce vegetables and cash crops.

“This has very good potential because you are near the airport. So all the basics are there and you can transport the products direct to the market,” he said.

The chief minister also touched on the high demand for Sarawak ‘midin’ (wild fern) in Singapore which is now priced at $60 per kilogramme.

“We have been exporting midin to Singapore so much so that our Sarawak Trade and Tourism Office (Statos) there has received a lot of enquiries about our local vegetables including midin.

“This means that the export value is there and the market is there,” he added.