KOTA SAMARAHAN: A total of RM5 million was allocated by the state government to build a collection centre named Kota Samarahan Collection Centre in Kota Samarahan, here.
The allocation was announced by Chief Minister, Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg during the Ramah Tamaha Aidilfitri Samarahan Divison celebration on last Wednesday night at Kota Samarahan Civic Centre here.
“Last night, I have annouced a total of RM5 million allocation for Collection Centre in Lawas and tonight, another RM5 million allocation to build and develope a collection centre here,” he said.
He added that the collection centre will be used to collect farming or argiculture products.
“We will keep the products in a place with refrigeration complete with the necessary infrastructure so that we can sell and export the products to other countries such as China.
“We choose Kota Samarahan because it is close to the Kuching International Airport. We get the products out through the airport using cargo planes,” he said.
He said for example, if the farmers produce a lot of pineapples, they can be collected, kept and later sell them to other countries.
“We can programme the centre in such a way the products will not become too ripe or too young and once we sell them, they are still fresh just like we have just harvested them from the garden,” he pointed out.
He said through the centre, the government can help the farmers in Kota Samarahan because there are a lot of farm items planted there.
“I will let our Minister of Entrepreneur and Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) Development, Datuk Mohd Naroden Majais to identify a suitable location for the construction of the centre,” he added.
Johari also announced an allocation of RM3.2 million for the renovation of Masjid Al-Muttaqin here.
