Uggah fields questions from the press.
MIRI: Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah has blasted social media users who accused the Sarawak government of lying over the construction of a collection, processing and packaging centre (CPPC) for Long Lama.
He said the funds for the proposed CPPC have already been given to the Public Works Department (JKR), which is the implementing agency for the project.
“The funds for the Long Lama CPPC are now with JKR. They will be the one implementing it for us and we hope it will be implemented soonest,” he told reporters after officiating at the Agriculture Department’s appreciation dinner, here on Friday. He said another issue raised by netizens was that the Sarawak government had lied over the export of durians.
“This year, we exported 100 tonnes of durian paste – as in ‘tempoyak’, not the whole fruit – because we can’t export it like that (fruits), but the tempoyak itself is highly demanded.
“I think they (critics) don’t read the newspapers, so whoever wrote that (accusation on social media) please read the news.
“We are here not to bluff and mislead the people, but here to help the people because the Long Lama CPPC will be a strategic area to collect all the durians in that area,” he said.
The setting up of the CPPC is in line with the Sarawak government’s mission towards becoming a major exporter of fruits and fruit products, not only in the country but also in Asean, by 2030.