Sarawak, Malaysia, will establish a dedicated cargo aircraft under Air Borneo to transport the state's agricultural produce to Singapore, which will serve as a central distribution hub for the region. Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg announced that an ATR aircraft will be converted into a cargo plane to ensure the direct delivery of Sarawak's food products, particularly fresh produce, to Singapore in just over one hour of flight time.
"This means that every early morning, our fresh products can be delivered directly to Singapore, ensuring freshness and reliability," he said when officiating Sarawak Agrofest 2025 at Bintulu Old Airport on 23 August, an event broadcast live through Ukas Channel.
The initiative, planned under the Sarawak Trade and Tourism Office Singapore (STATOS), will initially focus on Singapore due to its reliance on external food supplies, particularly fresh vegetables, which are currently sourced from Cameron Highlands.
"With the success of fertigation methods, Sarawak has the capacity to export organic food products to Singapore. For example, we already have terung asam (sour brinjal) producers exporting to Singapore and Brunei. These are among the examples that showcase our potential," he said.
Abang Johari also stated that Tanjung Manis has been identified as another key agricultural hub, not only for rice but also for pineapple cultivation. The Malaysian Pineapple Board is expanding its presence in Sarawak, supported by its federal budget allocation.
"Eventually, pineapples from Tanjung Manis will also be exported to markets such as Singapore," he added, noting that Sarawak's population of three million would allow for a production surplus in the future.
The Premier encouraged the private sector to explore new opportunities in developing the food industry, stating that the Sarawak government under Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) will continue to provide policies and direction for the sector.
"We have strength, and we have stability. What we need is to transform our mindset, embrace new ideas, and strengthen our economy so its benefits are shared with the people," he said.
Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian, Minister of Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom, and Malaysia's Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Dato Sri Tiong King Sing attended the event.
Source: Dayak Daily