THE state government should continue to encourage the people in Limbang Division to venture into livestock rearing, especially buffaloes, in a big way.
According to Batu Danau assemblyman Paulus Palu Gumbang, Limbang is already synonymous with livestock rearing. However, it is learnt that the buffalo population there has gone down drastically over the past several years – from 11,000 to around 5,000 currently.
“Therefore there is a need for a drastic plan of action to prevent the number from declining further.
“I also hope that the Agriculture Department could continue its research on the potential for padi planting and other suitable crops to increase the state’s food production.
“I am confident that if fully developed, Limbang Division could become one of the ‘rice bowls’ in the state,” he said when debating the state budget yesterday.
Paulus said as large sections of these areas are also prone to flooding, he called for the construction of a dam in Ulu Limbang to be given top priority.
He said the dam would help to control and mitigate flooding.
“This is one of the pre-requisites before we could embark on any of the afore-mentioned projects.”
Paulus also hope that the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports could prepare a tourism management plan to tap the potential in Limbang, slated to benefit the people and the state.
He noted that Limbang has two areas that could be further developed – the Buda Caves in Buda National Park and the already-established Mulu National Park bordering Limbang and Miri divisions.
“With proper planning, the two districts located within the BIMP-EAGA (Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines-East Asean Growth Area) bordering Brunei, Indonesia and Sabah, would be able to take advantage of its strategic location in creating opportunities from the spillover effect from BIMP-EAGA.
“I am also confident that the establishment of Northern Region Development Agency (NRDA) would also enable Limbang and Lawas to maximise the potential from the spillover from both the Highlands Development Agency (HDA) development plans and Sarawak Energy Bhdd’s Northern Region Agenda,” said Paulus.