KUCHING: While striving to modernise the state, “kampung” (village) heritage products must not be forgotten.
Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg said since products symbolise society’s identity, they should be preserved, conserved and commercialised.
“Our products which have high value can be produced for the global market,” he said when launching ‘Produk Warisan Kampung’ (village heritage product) at Mydin Petra Jaya Hypermarket here, yesterday.
Givng “acar limau” as an example, Abang Johari said Sarawak could market it as a valuable product if it is produced in a hygienic manner.
He also spoke on the raw material which requires venturing into agriculture.
“Without ‘limau’ (citrus/lime), there is no ‘acar.’ Therefore, we have to plant lime in order to have the raw materials for the production of ‘acar limau’.
“Instead of just making ‘acar limau’ for your meals, you might as well become an ‘acar limau’ entrepreneur – produce the raw materials, make the pickles and market them. This would increase the income of the family,” he said.
Abang Johari also expressed his gratitude to Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) for being pro-active in doing research in villages to study the potential of enhancing local products into value-added products which can compete with similar or related products in the market.
The “Produk Warisan Kampung” programme was organised under the Old Kuching Smart Heritage (OKSHe) in collaboration with Unimas, Satok Economic Bureau and Mydin Petra Jaya Hypermarket.
For the first phase, a total of 12 heritage products were offered for sale at Mydin Petra Jaya Hypermarket. They were “mumbu pedas”, “kacang bersalut”, “acar limau”, “kuih sepit”, “kuih cincin”, “kek buah”, “kek lapis ati parek”, and “pitis buah”.
Also present at the event were the chief minister’s wife Datuk Amar Juma’ani Tuanku Bujang, Unimas vice chancellor Prof Mohammad Kadim Suaidi, deputy state secretary Dr Sabariah Putit and Mydin project manager Ganesh Chinniah.
