MUKAH: The state government has approved the establishment of Rumbia Industry Development Authority (Lembaga Pembangunan Industri Rumbia — LPIR) to develop the industry and increase the income of the smallholders concerned.
Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg approved an allocation of RM5 million for the purpose during the launch of GPS Zone 10 at Rumah Kalang, Bayan Ulu recently.
For this, the people of the area expressed their gratitude to the state leaders.
Dalat District Rumbia Smallholders Association (PPKRD) chairman, Benedict Pon Akie, said several local leaders expressed their feelings on the matter during recent events held here.
Pon said they are very grateful that the local people’s representative (Welfare, Community Welfare, Women, Family and Child Development Minister) Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah had made the matter clear to the relevant ministers.
He added that smallholders are major contributors to the sago industry or 90.77 per cent of the total area of rumbia in the state and Malaysia in general.
“Dalat district alone has six mills using more than 230,000 cuts of rumbia logs purchased from smallholders. These mills are Nee Seng Ngeng & Sons Sago Industries Sdn Bhd, CL Nee Sago Industries Sdn Bhd, Song Ngeng Sago Industries (EM) Sdn Bhd, Riverine Sago Resources Sdn Bhd, Ubom Sago Sdn Bhd and Shimada Sago Chemical.
