BAU: The Association of Research and Development of Singai Sarawak (Redeems) plans to collaborate with Sarawak Biodiversity Centre (SBC) to conduct proper research on flora and fauna found on Mount Singai.

Such proposal follows a successful sealing of an agreement between the body and Agriculture Department to set up a seed bank for various species of fruits, plants and herbs in and around area.

Redeems president Datuk Peter Nansian said during an earlier study undertaken by Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) and Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) on the mountain, it is discovered that there are so many wild species inhabiting the mountain – including the world’s smallest frog.

“Mount Singai, like any others such as Bung Bratak and Bung Jagoi, is home to several species of flora and fauna. Still, the problem is that very little is known about them as no proper research has ever been carried out on them. So now, we are eyeing collaboration with SBC on this. The purpose is to see how we can monetise and commercialise these resources,” he said.

For Nansian – who is also Assistant Minister of Community Development – said the most viable way towards this goal would be to get non-governmental organisations and government agencies working together, like what Redeems and the Agriculture Department strove for through the inking of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) here yesterday.

Nansian reiterated that the objective of the MoU was to engage the department to conduct research on various fruits, plants and herbs found on Mount Singai, in particular, as well as those from surrounding areas.

“This seed bank is open to everyone – even those outside of Singai – with Redeems as the platform,” he said.