The Sarawak State Legislative Assembly sitting next week will see the tabling of the Sarawak Padi and Rice Board Bill 2026.
KUCHING: The Sarawak State Legislative Assembly sitting next week will see the tabling of the Sarawak Padi and Rice Board Bill 2026, a key piece of legislation aimed at strengthening the state’s food security agenda through structured padi and rice development.
Speaker Tan Sri Mohamad Asfia Awang Nassar said it is among four bills scheduled to be tabled during the eight-day sitting from May 11 to 20 at the Sarawak DUN Complex here.
He said the sitting will begin with an opening address by Yang Dipertua Negeri Tun Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar on Monday.
“The other bills to be tabled are the Supplementary Supply (2025) Bill 2026, Supplementary Supply (2026) Bill 2026, and the Perbadanan Pembangunan Ekonomi Sarawak (Amendment) Bill 2026,” he said at a press conference after the pre-council meeting here today.
Mohamad Asfia said the Sarawak Padi and Rice Board Bill 2026, to be tabled by Minister for Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development Datuk Seri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom, seeks to establish a statutory authority to coordinate, develop and strengthen the state’s padi and rice industry.
He said the board would function as a central authority to regulate padi and rice activities, including development planning, establishment of committees, appointment of a general manager as well as management of funds and financing provisions.
“The land that will be developed for padi will be designated areas in the state land so that there is no dispute on the ownership of the land.
“So padi, rice, all defined (in the bill), includes padi or rice of any species or varieties, derived therefrom from any form and includes padi product and rice product,” he said.
Mohamad Asfia added that seven state land areas have been identified for padi development under the proposed framework.
He also said 333 questions have been received for the sitting, comprising 254 oral and 79 written questions, submitted by 39 and 15 members respectively.
