SIBU: The Sarawak government will set up the Sarawak Sago Industry Development Board, with a start-up capital of RM5 million.

Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg said being the largest exporter of sago products, Sarawak still needs to explore its potential in this sector.

Generally, he pointed out that agriculture remains a very important area for Sarawak but new method needs to be utilised for this industry to generate more incomes.

“We will use the new method that is, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and robotics in agriculture industry,” he said after officiating at a ‘Gawai-Raya’ event at Rumah Kalang, Bayan Ulu near Mukah yesterday.

Abang Johari, who is also Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, said to support this agriculture objective, a total of 600 telecommunication towers would be erected across Sarawak, including the rural areas, by 2020.

Cooperation with Malaysia Nuclear Agency would also ensure that there would be no harmful impact incurred during the development of these towers, he said.

Touching on the development of water and electricity supply as well as road connectivity, Abang Johari acknowledged that this would require ‘a big budget’ in that it would cover the rural areas, but he assured that all these would be implemented.

“Upon completion of these development, we would use and combine all strengths, and see the outcome towards the target of turning Sarawak into a fully-developed state come 2030,” he said.

The event yesterday also held the launch of Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) Zone 10, as well as the issuance of 202 letters of ownership for Native Customary Rights (NCR) land lots in Sungai Bayan, Balingian as well as Sungai Kebuin and Sungai Menjumo Batang Balingian in Mukah, which had undergone the perimeter survey exercise under Section 18 of Sarawak Land Code.

The presentation involved 130 recipients.

Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas and Minister of Welfare, Community Well Being, Women, Family and Childhood Development Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah were also present.