LAWAS: A collection centre for agricultural and other products to spur food production in Sarawak’s northernmost district will be built here.

Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan announced this proposal when officiating at the Sundar sub-district Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebration at Projek Rimbunan Kaseh (PRK) Sundar hall yesterday.

“I will bring this up with our Chief Minister so that our products can be marketed to other areas and even overseas,” he said.

He said PRK Sundar had succeeded in stimulating more agricultural production which benefitted the participants in terms of better economy, thanks to its management company Iris Agrotech Sdn Bhd, which provides the technology and technical expertise to produce  Golden Rock melons while undertaking marketing of the products.

Awang Tengah, who is also Second Minister of Urban Development and Natural Resources and Minister of Industrial and Entrepreneur Development, urged the local community to be actively involved in the economic spin-offs of the  PRK Sundar project and various infrastructures and public amenities to spur the physical and economic growth under the Sundar-Awat-Awat (SAA) Rural Growth Centre (RGC).

“The Rimbunan Kaseh Sundar pilot project is successful and has become a catalyst for Sundar’s further development, opening up more opportunities for locals to open more land as contract farmers,” he said.

The SAA RGC has been earmarked for development of livestock, agriculture and aquaculture, food processing and cottage industries.

He said he had instructed the general manager of Land Consolidation and Development Authority (LCDA) to seek ways to assist locals who are interested in participating in the sectors.

On economic cooperation between Sarawak and Brunei, he said several issues were discussed when Head of State Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud, Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg and himself had an audience with the Sultan of Brunei last Saturday.

“Among the issues raised were the idea of making Limbang, Temburong and Lawas as a livestock production belt which is in line with the state government’s policy of making Limbang and Lawas as buffalo production centres,” he said.

On the proposed Sundar sub-district office building project, he said there had been a slight delay following a change in design for a bigger infrastructure to cater for the  future needs of Sundar.

Meanwhile, he urged parents to give education for their children their top priority to be able to thrive in the competitive world ahead.

He also told them to keep a watchful eye over their children to prevent them from getting involved in drugs.

“Target at least half of your children to be university graduates and the other half at least a diploma in TVET (technical and vocational training) courses, if it is not possible to have everyone obtain a degree,” he said.

Accompanying him were his wife Datuk Dayang Morliah Awang Daud, Deputy Minister of Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Datuk Henry Sum Agong, Limbang Resident Datu Maria Hasman, Lawas district officer Hussaini Hakim, community leaders and heads of government departments and agencies.

A crowd of 600 attended the function.