ENSURAI TREE PLANTING PROJECT PROPOSED UNDER SARAWAK PCDS 2030 - ABANG JOHARI

KAPIT, Nov 6 (Bernama) -- The planting of Ensurai trees along the riverbanks in the Kapit Division is one of the projects proposed as Sarawak enters its second and final phase of the Post-COVID-19 Development Strategy 2030 (PCDS 2030), marked by the beginning of the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) next year.

Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said the project, to be implemented by the Upper Rejang Development Authority (URDA) and the Regional Corridor Development Agency (Recoda), is aimed at improving the socio-economy of the people, in line with the government’s focus under the 13MP.

“There’s a proposal for us to plant Ensurai trees that will become the feedstock for fish in the river or the dam. This is part of the socio-economic activities that are being promoted in the next round of development (in the URDA area),” he told reporters after chairing the Sarawak Development Coordination Committee Meeting (SDCCM) at the Kapit Division Administrative Complex here today.

He said Sarawak has achieved its high-income state status as recognised by the World Bank way before 2030, thus the focus now is to increase the household income of all Sarawakians, including those in remote areas.

The project is seen as being able to provide food for the highly prized Empurau (Tor tambroides) and Semah (Tor labeobarbus) fish, which feed on Ensurai fruits and eventually increase their population and generate volumes for those involved in inland freshwater fishing.

The Ensurai tree, scientifically known as Dipterocarpus oblongifolius, can grow up to 40 metres tall and 200 centimetres in diameter. It is a totally protected species, while its fruit serves as food for many high-value freshwater fish, such as the Empurau, which can fetch up to RM1,000 per kilogramme; or the Semah, which can sell for as much as RM200 per kilogramme.

Meanwhile, Abang Johari said he was satisfied with the overall implementation of various projects in Kapit, among them the state government-funded RM1.96 billion water supply upgrading project that received RM300 million in funding from the Federal Government.

He said RM122 million had been approved for the construction of a new settlement in Merirai, which is expected to begin next year, while several major roads, including connecting roads to the Baleh Hydroelectric Dam and to longhouses along the Baleh River, would be built to improve local mobility and economic opportunities.

“By 2030, we are confident that all these plans will bear fruit and bring prosperity to the people of Sarawak, particularly in Kapit,” he added.

-- BERNAMA