KOTA KINABALU - APRIL 16, 2024

The council signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Sabah Rubber Industry Board and Rompin Integrated Pineapple Industries Sdn. Bhd. (Rompine) and Una Crop Sdn. Bhd. at the Sabah International Convention Centre (SICC) in Kota Kinabalu this morning. 

The first memorandum is with Rompin Integrated Pineapple Industries Sdn. Bhd., which will ensure that all MD2 pineapple produce cultivated will have a stable market and at the same time contribute to building a sustainable pineapple industry ecosystem for the state of Sabah. The memorandum signed is not just a collaboration between ROMPINE and SRIB but also symbolizes the cooperation between the State Government of Pahang and the State Government of Sabah.

The second memorandum with Una Crop Sdn. Bhd. will ensure that LIGS has access to high-quality MD2 pineapple seeds and the technical expertise needed to ensure the success of this program in terms of quantity and quality of produce.

"The collaboration with these two experienced and reputable companies in their respective fields not only demonstrates their confidence in the vision of LIGS but also represents a significant step in elevating the stature of Sabah's agriculture on the world stage," said YB Tuan Peto Galim, Deputy Minister I of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food Industry of Sabah, representing YB Datuk Seri Panglima Dr. Jeffrey G. Kitingan, Deputy Chief Minister of Sabah and Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food Industry of Sabah.

At the event, he also congratulated SRIB for being entrusted by the Ministry of Economy to implement the People's Income Initiative (IPR INTAN) through MD2 pineapple cultivation in Kampung Gana, Kota Marudu, spanning 200 acres. This initiative aims to increase income for small rubber farmers in the area, contributing to the country's economic growth.

The IPR INTAN program commenced in 2023, and this year, SRIB is determined to extend the success of the program by developing an additional 300 acres of land for MD2 pineapple cultivation. This underscores LIGS's commitment to ensuring the continuous growth and benefits of the program for more small farmers in the future. Relying solely on MD2 pineapple yields may not yield substantial impacts, so LIGS is now expanding the potential of the pineapple industry to explore packaging and processing MD2 pineapples.

The Memorandum of Understanding was signed by Tuan Sabdil bin Tanjong, Director-General of SRIB; Dato’ Shahrul Nizam bin Abdul Aziz, Chief Executive Officer of Tanah Makmur Berhad Group and Chairman of Rompin Integrated Pineapple Industries Sdn Bhd; Tuan Mohamad Hidhir bin Hamin, Managing Director of Una Crop Sdn Bhd, and witnessed by YB Tuan Peto Galim, Assistant Minister I of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food Industry of Sabah; Datuk Robert Stidi, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food Industry of Sabah; Datuk Edward Linggu, Chairman of LIGS; and Datin Zaeidah Mohamed Esa, Director of the Agriculture Division, Ministry of Economy.