Rosey (left), Lukanisman (third left) and others look at the various ‘sambal belacan’ entries for the competition.

MIRI: Villagers involved in cottage industries should strive to come up with more creative ways to promote their products to help attract visitors, said Assistant Minister of Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development Datuk Rosey Yunus.

She said the state government has provided various types of business-related assistance to encourage more involvement in entrepreneurship among those living in rural areas, but the onus was on the villagers to come up with ways to make their products more attractive.

“Use your creative thinking to further develop the local food products available in your village.

“By doing so, it will be another way to attract people to visit your village thus spurring the village’s business activities,” said Rosey who is Bekenu assemblywoman.

She said this when officiating at a plant-growing competition cum sale of flowers programme held at Kampung Pejuang Kelulit, Bekenu on Saturday.

The plant-growing competition saw 80 participants take part in two categories, namely ornamental yam plant and coleus plant.

In addition, a further 18 participants signed up for another competition to determine who could make the best ‘sambal belacan’.

In praising the organisers, Rosey said she hoped for more such ‘creative’ events to be organised in Bekenu to encourage people to visit the constituency.

Saturday’s events were organised by six Village Security and Development Committees (JKKKs), namely those of Kampung Pejuang Kelulit, Kampung Pulai Belunuk, Kampung Sulap Lada, Kampung Labau, Kampung Padang and Kampung Pulau Untung.

Among those present were Sibuti MP Lukanisman Awang Sauni and Pemanca Ali Mudin.