‘Go for diversification of coconut and prawn products’

BINTULU: Food products made from coconuts and prawns can be diversified as value-added products to benefit entrepreneurs.

Minister in the Chief Minister’s Office (Integrity and Ombudsman) cum Jepak assemblyman Datuk Talib Zulpilip said this when officiating at the ‘Pesta Benyu and Ughang’ at Bintulu Esplanade yesterday.

Talib said the operators can produce additional products like prawn fritters or ‘umai’ apart from ‘cencaluk’.

He said ‘geragau’ prawns are used to produce shrimp paste which has been promoted in several countries like New Zealand, Australia and Britain, and its price is rising.

“Previously the price for shrimp paste is only about RM20 to RM25 per kilogramme in the supermarket in New Zealand but now the price has increased fourfold to RM80 per kilo,” he said.

Also present were Talib’s wife Datin Dr Zaliha Abdullah, Bintulu Resident Muhamad Yakup Kari, political secretary to the chief minister, Soo Li Ching and community leaders.

As for coconut water, it is a clean and healthy with lots of nutrients as highlighted by experts and doctors, Talib said.

“We never hear of people saying coconut water is unhealthy and even the trees are planted everywhere,” he said.

He hoped the festival can promote ideas on diversifying products to be promoted to a wider market.

The festival which ends today (May 21) is organised by Bintulu Resident’s Office in collaboration with entrepreneur associations, government agencies and non-governmental organisations.