JKR technical teams and related agencies assessing the potential of former logging tracks to be upgraded

BETONG, Aug 13 2026: The Sarawak government is assessing the potential of former logging tracks to be upgraded as last mile routes to connect interior areas that still do not have good road access.

Caption: Deputy Premier Douglas Uggah says the goal of the expedition is to see the conditions of the former logging tracks

Deputy Premier Douglas Uggah Embas said the assessment is carried out by the Public Works Department (JKR) technical teams and related agencies.

According to him, the assessment  allowed the agencies to see for themselves the conditions of the logging tracks that  have the potential to be upgraded for the benefits of the residents in interior areas.

"Our goal is to see the condition of these former logging tracks which the state government has now decided to take over.

"The conditions of these tracks really need to be upgraded. So today we went down ourselves with the technical team so that we can assess what we should do about these former logging roads,” he told reporters after leading the XPDC 3.0 launch at the Tan Sri Datuk Amar Stephen Kalong Ningkan Sports Hall compound, today.

Uggah explained that the XPDC 3.0 is the third expedition carried out after the previous two expeditions to Bario and the Belaga hinterland respectively.

He said the expedition focuses on the Ulu Skrang, Ulu Entabai and Ulu Kota routes to identify the actual conditions and needs of the infrastructure in the area.

“We want to identify former logging roads that can connect unreached places with perfect roads, which previously only had stone roads and tracks,” he said.

Uggah, who is also Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) chairman, also reminded the public to take precautions following the current haze situation.

He said the public needs to avoid open burning which is an offence under the law, in addition to taking care of their health and constantly monitoring current air quality reports.

“Those who suffer from asthma are also advised to be more careful and wear face masks if they have to go outside.

“Water assistance will be targeted at existing water reservoirs and the team will issue certificates and supply water if needed.

“The public is also asked to report any fire incidents to the police, while longhouse residents are advised to always be vigilant and take appropriate safety measures,” he added.

Also present were Deputy Minister of Infrastructure and Port Development Aidil Lariwoo, Lubok Antu Member of Parliament Roy Angau Gingkoi, Engkelili Assemblyman. Johnical Rayong Ngipa and other guests

Sarawak eyeing a share of US$4.3 trillion global bioproducts market

KOTA SAMARAHAN,  Aug 13 2026:  Sarawak wants a share of the global bioproducts market worth around US$4.3 trillion  with a huge opportunity to attract investment and expand the commercialisation of the state's biodiversity-based products, Premier Abang Johari Openg said today, stressing that the demand for bioproducts, especially health-related products, shows great potential for Sarawak to explore.

Caption: Premier Abang Johari Openg says  Sarawak has biodiversity resources that can be utilised in a planned manner to attract investors to collaborate with the Sarawak Biodiversity Centre (SBC).

"From Fortune Insight, the business based on bioproducts is around US$4.3 trillion. This means there is an increase and demand in the market for health products," he said.

He was speaking to reporters after the 'Foundation Laying & Exchange of Agreements ceremony for Sarawak Bioindustrial Park (SBP)' in Kota Samarahan today.

According to him, Sarawak has biodiversity resources that can be utilised in a planned manner to attract investors to collaborate with the Sarawak Biodiversity Centre (SBC).

He said the development of the bioindustrial area could be expanded to provide space for investors to collaborate with SBC, especially in developing products that have been produced through research.

“We can develop it so that investors can work with SBC,” he said.

According to the premier, SBC has various products that have the potential to be commercialized and traded, thus opening up opportunities for Sarawak to increase its participation in the global bioproduct market.

He said that the approach of attracting investors to work directly with local research institutions is important to ensure that the potential of biodiversity-based products can be developed according to market needs.

He said that this opportunity must be harnessed by taking a planned approach in the use of Sarawak’s biodiversity resources, especially to meet the increasing demand for health-related products.-EDISI UKAS

Abang Johari said Sarawak will continue to invest in research and development (R&D) to strengthen scientific capabilities and commercialise biodiversity wealth as a driver of the state's new economy.

He said continued investment in research is important to enable Sarawak to explore its own biodiversity resources and produce high-value products that meet market needs.

"I will invest in research. I will invest the proceeds we have back into research and let us become players in the new economy," he said.

According to him., Sarawak's biodiversity wealth, especially forest resources and plants with medicinal potential, needs to be explored through a scientific approach before being translated into products that benefit the community.

He said SBP will play an important role as a link between research conducted at the Sarawak Biodiversity Centre (SBC) with industrial applications and commercial production of products.

"Research can be done at SBC. From the research results, it must be applied to industrial products and this park is a place to focus on the application of the technology we obtain," he said.

He said the approach would enable Sarawak's biodiversity resources to be given added value through science and technology, thus opening up space for the state to become a strategic bioeconomic hub in the region.

Meanwhile, the Sarawak Premier said that artificial intelligence (AI) technology and DNA data could be used as a catalyst for biodiversity research, including in efforts to identify compounds that have the potential to be developed into health products.

According to him, the development of the global biotechnology industry also opened up a wide space for Sarawak to contribute in the sector by taking advantage of the advantages of its natural resources.

He added that Sarawak needed more scientists who could conduct research on local plants and resources and produce solutions that meet the needs of the community.

He said that the development of scientific capacity was very important as Sarawak transitioned from a conventional economy to a new economy that was also affected by climate change.

Meanwhile, the development of the SBP Main Hub on an area of ​​100 acres is scheduled to be completed within 24 months, with facilities including research laboratories, pilot-scale processing facilities, collaboration spaces and manufacturing support that complies with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP).

The facility will help bridge the gap between scientific discovery and market readiness, including enabling researchers, start-ups and industry players to test technologies, scale up production and meet regulatory requirements.

The ceremony also saw the exchange of eight collaboration agreements and Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) between BioVerde Technologies Sdn Bhd and the corporate sector covering the fields of pharmaceuticals, waste bioconversion, functional foods, cell and gene therapy, regenerative medicine, sago-based products as well as certification services and technical support.

Also present were the Deputy Premier Dr Sim Hui Kian, Minister of Education, Innovation and Talent Development Roland Sagah Wee Inn, Minister of Tourism, Creative Industries and Performing Arts Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, Deputy Speaker of the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly Idris Buang and other dignitaries.