KUCHING: Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas (pic) said beginning today (Jan 1) his duty would be to put greater effort into transforming the state’s agricultural sector.
He said for this year, the state has allocated RM355 million, and modern programmes and projects had been identified to boost production or raise the level of self-sufficiency.
“In a nutshell, my ministry is promoting precision farming which is technology driven,” he said in his New Year’s message.
Uggah, who is also the Minister of Modernisation of Agriculture, said that his ministry needed to be productive as the State was aiming to be a net food exporter by 2030.
Regarding the current rabies scourge, he wanted more dogs vaccinated.
“Our target is to get at least 70 percent of the estimated 200,000 dogs in the state vaccinated,” he said, adding that so far half of the number
had been
vaccinated.
“I am appealing to more dog owners to get their pets vaccinated as soon as possible and not take things for granted before it is too late,” he said.
Uggah then said on the native customary rights (NCR) land issue, the state government had allocated RM40 million to continue with the perimeter survey programme this year.
“The DUN had also passed the Land Code (Amendment) Bill 2018 to give the force of law to the customary ‘Pulau Galau’ and ‘Pemakai Menoa’ ,” he said.
On the political front, he said that Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg would lead Sarawak to greater heights although the State governing coalition is not a part of the Pakatan Harapan government at the federal level.
“We have Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) formed by our own Sarawak-based parties whose leaders advocate the Sarawak First Policy. They will determine our progress, prosperity and destiny,” he said.
He said last year the State government formed Sarawak Petroleum Berhad (Petros), Development Bank of Sarawak (DBOS), and Unit for Other Religions (Unifor) for the benefit of the people.
“For 2019 Unifor has been allocated RM30 million for the construction or upgrading of various houses of worship, or obtain land for such buildings. In 2018 it was given RM20 million to carry out 231 projects.
“This year we also have a budget of about RM11 billion. Thus it will be a very hectic year with the implementation of development programmes to uplift the people’s livelihood and transform Sarawak,” he stressed.
Concerning the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63)
negotiation, he said it was still on-going.
