Rep: Vital for Telang Usan community to understand bamboo project to benefit from it

KUCHING (Sept 10): The community in Telang Usan involved in the bamboo development project by Sarawak Timber Industry Development Corporation (STIDC) must fully understand the project’s concept to benefit from it, said Dato Dennis Ngau.

“This is because we don’t want them to miss the opportunity, (and) not to be confused with those who deliberately want to cause confusion. As I have often emphasised, we can put hope and confidence in the state government which always seeks the best for its people,” said the Telang Usan assemblyman in a press release issued by STIDC yesterday.

Dennis also said he welcomes the government’s efforts through STIDC which wants to develop the bamboo industry in the Telang Usan area in particular, and Baram in general.

He believes STIDC is committed to ensuring that the potential of the bamboo industry in Sarawak can be commercialised in a more planned and competitive manner.

“We are confident from the research that has been carried out by government agencies, resources from bamboo can drive the development of bamboo-based industries in Sarawak. In addition, it can be one of the sources of income for the residents.

“At the same time, ‘rebong’ (bamboo shoot) can be developed into bamboo-based food industry. Other products from bamboo which can be developed for our industries are bamboo boards, biomass, biochar (form of charcoal) and also the production of bamboo-based craft products,” he said.

Dennis mentioned these when receiving a courtesy call from community leaders and representatives from STIDC, Ministry of Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development (M-FICORD), and Malaysian Community Care Foundation (MCCF) at his service centre recently.

Their meeting was regarding bamboo-planting cooperation with the communities of Sungai Paong, Sungai Dapoi and Sungai Lobang in Baram.

According to the STIDC press release, a Bamboo Planting Cooperation dialogue with the MCCF and communities of Sungai Paong, Sungai Dapoi and Sungai Lobang was held earlier at the STIDC Miri Division office.

It involved explanations by STIDC, M-FICORD and MCCF regarding the collaborative efforts by government agencies and bamboo industry players to develop the project, thus improving the socioeconomic status of the population in the area.