Nanta seen during a session, held as part of the programme at the AnNaHL.
KAPIT (July 17): The rural economy can no longer rely solely on the production of raw commodities.
In pointing this out, Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi said it must instead move towards value-added industries driven by innovation, technology and market access.
The Kapit MP and chairman of the Upper Rejang Development Agency (URDA) said this in a statement issued in connection with the visit by the delegations of URDA and the Regional Corridor Development Authority (Recoda) to the Advance National Honey Landmark (AnNaHL) Translational Centre of Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) in Kubang Kerian, Kelantan on Wednesday.
The group, led by Nanta, meant to study a community development model that had the potential of being implemented in Sarawak.
Adding on, he said the High Impact Community Projects (HICP) approach introduced in Sarawak had demonstrated tangible success by increasing participants’ average income by more than 25 per cent through research, innovation and knowledge-transfer.
On the Kubang Kerian visit, Nanta hailed universities as not merely centres of research, but strategic partners in empowering rural communities through innovation and entrepreneurship.
“As a member of Parliament for Kapit and chairman of URDA, I believe rural development must focus on building community capacity by equipping people with the knowledge, skills, technology and market access so they can generate sustainable incomes.”
Nanta highlighted several high-impact projects already underway in Kapit, including the ‘kelulut’ (stingless bee) honey projects in Melatai, Selirik and Kampung Tatai Mas Raweng; an integrated livestock project in Nanga Yong; and the upcoming Upper Rajang Honey Processing and Marketing Centre in Song.
Nanta also spoke about the RM7 million Bumiputera Entrepreneur Development Fund allocated by Bumiputera Agenda Steering Unit (Teraju) to USM through the HICP initiative, which had directly benefitted 100 Bumiputera participants from the B40 (low-income) group in Sarawak.
“The participants are now earning between RM3,000 and RM7,000 monthly, while the programme has produced 10 innovation elements and eight downstream products supported by various certifications including halal, MeSTI, HACCP and GMP – enabling them to access both domestic and international markets.
“This is the kind of impact that the government seeks from its investments – not merely completing projects, but also creating capable communities and sustainable entrepreneurs.”
Nanta gave assurance that URDA would continue serving as a facilitator and strategic partner to strengthen collaboration among government agencies, universities, development agencies and local communities.
In the statement, the federal minister thanked the USM team led by deputy vice-chancellor (industry and community network) Prof Datuk Dr Azlan Amran, as well as the Health Campus director Prof Datuk Dr Shaiful Bahari Ismail, and Teraju senior director Mohd Najib Jaafar.
The Sarawak delegation also comprised Deputy Minister in Sarawak Premier’s Department Datuk Jefferson Jamit Unyat, Recoda chief executive officer Datuk Haji Ismawi Ismuni and Kapit Resident Elvis Didit.
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