Dr Rundi: Ministry’s role may be reassessed to sharpen focus, streamline governance

KUCHING (Jan 16): The role of the State Ministry for Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development (M-FICORD) may be reassessed to improve policy implementation, streamline governance and sharpen the ministry’s focus on its core responsibilities, said its Minister Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom.

Dr Rundi said the ministry currently oversees a broad range of portfolios, including agriculture, land development and rural development, which has made planning and execution increasingly complex.

“Given the scope of the ministry’s responsibilities, perhaps for the coming years or terms, we need to reassess so that we can focus more effectively on the ministry’s key tasks,” he said, according to a Sarawak Public Communications Unit (Ukas) report.

Dr Rundi referred to the recent amendment to the Sarawak Constitution allowing the Cabinet to expand by up to four additional members, suggesting that some of the ministry’s responsibilities could be shared with new ministers and ministries.

He said the addition of more ministers would enable duties to be distributed more effectively while maintaining the existing public service structure.

Dr Rundi made these remarks during the 2026 Gemilang Agro-Based Industry Dinner here on Wednesday.

On Nov 24 last year, the Constitution of the State of Sarawak (Amendment) Bill 2025 was passed by the Sarawak Legislative Assembly, increasing the number of Cabinet ministers from 11 to 15.

It was reported that the amendment, which allows for the appointment of up to four additional ministers, was necessary to strengthen Sarawak’s administrative capacity in line with current development demands.

On another matter, Dr Rundi proposed the establishment of a dedicated unit under M-FICORD to manage seasonal fruits, with an emphasis on downstream activities and value-added production.

He said the proposal arose from concerns over farmers who had been encouraged by the government to cultivate seasonal fruits, but whose produce was not yet managed in a systematic and sustainable manner.

“We need to move downstream so that we can create marketable products from agricultural produce.

“For example, durian can be processed into paste, ice cream, and other products, while dabai can also be developed into various commercial items,” he said.

Among those present at the dinner were M-FICORD permanent secretary Datu Sirai Daha and Sarawak Agriculture Department deputy director Gilbert Igi.