KUCHING: ‘Rumbia’ (palm which produces sago) industry in Dalat has the potential for an expansion in the future as 50 per cent of rumbia production comes from the district.
Minister for Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development who is also Dalat assemblyman, Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah said most of the rumbia production in the state came from Dalat.
“Dalat, which has a large area houses many sago factories, hence there is a proposal of building a sago industry development complex in the future.
“The proposed Sago and Nipah Industrial Development Complex located in Dalat has been approved by the cabinet,” she said.
Fatimah told reporters this after attending the ‘Santuni Kasih Aidiladha eDOK Kuching/Samarahan 2024’ at Alia Banquet Hall, Jalan Muhibbah on Saturday (June 22).
Speaking on the development in Dalat, she also plan to organise the Balau Carnival to introduce the value of balau (sago palm tree) and promote its development for the downstream and upstream products.
She commented that before the COVID-19 pandemic, the carnival was proposed to be held once every two years in Dalat alongside the ‘Pesta Bersaug’ (Boat Festival).
“We plan to expand this industry through a carnival to create attraction and increase public awareness about the Balau and Rumbia.
“This year the carnival will be held this October. Previously, we (the Ministry) went to Sabah to look at the rumbia gallery specifically to observe its potential,” she said.
Meanwhile, on the sideline Fatimah then revealed that a task force would be established to solve hardcore poverty issues in Sarawak.
She explained that the role of the task force would be to eradicate hardcore poverty in Sarawak. Its details will be announced next week in a press conference.
“We aim to eradicate hardcore poverty across Sarawak, including my own area in Dalat,” she concluded.
