By Syammimi Husna
SIMUNJAN: Sarawak Timber Industry Development Corporation (PUSAKA) is actively establishing several initiatives to develop the bamboo industry at the international stage.
Its general manager, Datuk Hashim Bojet said that among the efforts include developing strategic collaboration with a company in Shanghai, China called Brooke and Breeze in making bicycle from bamboo.
“We have built bicycle from bamboo and we targeted around 15 bicycles will be produced by the end of October.
“We will organise a discussion with the company to establish collaboration and produce bamboo bicycles from Sarawak commercially,” he said when interviewed by reporters.
He added that PUSAKA was also collaborating with local universities such as Universiti Putra Malaysia in Bintulu towards developing bamboo farming that will also act as a ‘live museum’ known as “bambusetum”.
“In those areas later, we are planning to make a collection of bamboo species in Sarawak, Malaysia and any other countries. It is to help the learning session in the forestry field especially one that involves bamboo,” he added.
On another development, Hashim said that the collaboration with industry players was also in the works, especially those in Samalaju, Bintulu.
“We have suggested a few green areas for the farming of bamboo, especially in the open space, and the bamboo will later be used by the industries as raw material for their product.
“Once we get some decision from them, we will start our bamboo farming because at the moment, we are fully prepared with the farming in Sabal (Sabal Forest Reserve, Simunjan) and Tanjung Manis (Tapak Semaian Tanjung Manis, Mukah),” he added.
