KUCHING: The Sarawak government hopes that the federal government will allocate funds for it to build the drainage and irrigation system here so that paddy can be planted in the state.
Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg pointed out that although Sarawak has vast lands to yield paddy, the cost to build the drainage and irrigation system is too high.
He explained that without the drainage and irrigation system, the production of paddy in the area will not be as effective.
“Aside from the other areas, one of the paddy fields that we have identified is at Banting, Sri Aman, however, the cost to build the drainage and irrigation system there is close to RM1 billion.
“That is why it is difficult for us to go on a big scale and need funding from the federal government. So I hope that Deputy Prime Minister (Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof) will help us on the matter,” he said.
Abang Johari said this when he was officiating at the AgroFest 2023 at Dataran Perayaan, Jalan Stadium, Petra Jaya here yesterday.
Commenting on the matter, Fadillah stated that he acknowledged the high cost needed to build the drainage and irrigation system in Sarawak.
Therefore, he assured that he will bring up the matter to be discussed with the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Ministry of Economy, and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
“I will discuss with them on the yearly basis allocation so that the drainage and irrigation system can be implemented in the areas that the Premier has identified. We will work out the details.
“For now, we do not have the time frame of when it will be given or how much the federal government will allocate.
“We will first need to discuss thoroughly on the matter,” he said when met by the media after the officiating ceremony.
