Sarawak to form own fisheries dept to regulate resources to generate more income, says Dr Rundi

KUCHING (Oct 31): Sarawak plans to establish its own fisheries department to better regulate resources that could contribute to the state’s economy, said Minister of Food Industry, Commodity, and Regional Development, Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom.

A draft amendment to the Sarawak Fisheries Ordinance 2003 has been prepared and is currently in the final drafting stage, he told reporters today following the Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) Sarawak Integrity Day 2024 programme at a local hotel.

“We have to regulate our resources because our coast is more than 1,000 kilometres long and certainly has many resources that can generate income to Sarawak, which we have not capitalised on all this while.

“So, with our own Fisheries Department, we would then be able to regulate our resources in a more organised or systematic manner, and also, we would have the authority,” he said, while expressing hope that the department could be formed within two years.

Dr Rundi expressed optimism that the department could be established within the next two years, emphasising its importance for the future welfare of Sarawakian fishermen.

“If we look at Sabah, there is a state Department of Fisheries but not in Sarawak, and we have to rely on the Malaysian Fisheries Development Board (LKIM) and so on.

“So the better future of our fishermen is not guaranteed if it is not managed properly because we have so many stages of fishing, for instance deep sea fishing, coastal and ordinary fishing.

“Sometimes big boats would go to shallow waters to fish, affecting the income of our small boat fishermen,” he explained.

On a related note, Dr Rundi highlighted Sarawak’s intention to model this department similarly to the state’s DVS, which was previously under the Sarawak Department of Agriculture.

“Sarawak has developed further, and therefore, we have to focus on every industry.

“That’s why I changed the name of this ministry to the ‘food industry’ because if there is no industry, we cannot succeed in our agriculture, especially for the benefit of those living in rural areas,” he added.

Among those present at the integrity programme were the Advisor in the Sarawak Premier’s Office (Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development) Tan Sri William Mawan Ikom, Sarawak DVS director Datu Dr Adrian Susin Ambud, Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission deputy director Wan Ahmad Nizam Wan Omar and Integrity and Ombudsman Sarawak Unit director Wan Mohammad Wan Drahman.