Minister: Fresh greens from Kundasang on their way to main markets throughout Malaysia, Brunei

Datuk Junz Wong.-filepic

KOTA KINABALU: Steps are already in place for highland vegetables from Kundasang to be transported to main markets in Sabah, Sarawak, Peninsular Malaysia and neighbouring Brunei, says state Agriculture and Food Industry Minister Datuk Junz Wong.

He said that they have put in place a mechanism that will allow 58 farmers, and wholesalers from the Kundasang area to send out their produce to the main towns of Kota Kinabalu, and east coast towns of Sandakan and Tawau.

He said they have given approval for 148 entities and 184 lorries to transport the goods from Kundasang following initial hiccups of vegetable transport from the highlands after a movement control order was put in place on March 18.

Wong said that the Ranau district office was put in charge to ensure that guidelines are observed and police would not stop the movements of vegetables and other food items between districts.

He said that export of highland vegetables to Brunei, Sarawak and Peninsular Malaysia has not been interrupted.

He was commenting on a claim by farmer Jailin Nazrin that they were unable to send out their vegetables because wholesalers from outside the district could not come into the district.

Wong said that Ranau district office and the agriculture department among other agencies would assist if those affected checked with them on steps to be taken not only for sending out the farm produce and also the needs of farmers.

“We do agree that there has been some disruption to the daily business of the farmers in Kundasang but we have taken whatever steps possible to reduce the impact, ” he said referring to earlier claims that harvested vegetables were rotting and being thrown.

He said that Sabah Fama had also informed him that steps were taken to send the highland vegetable to other smaller towns in Sabah and also to Sarawak through the Sabah’s border town of Sindumin.

“Fama has helped to send 45 metric tonnes of vegetables to Selayang in Kuala Lumpur and there has been no problem, ” he added.