KUCHING: The Ministry of Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development Sarawak may reassess its structure to focus more closely on ministerial responsibilities.
Minister Datuk Seri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom, said the ministry is a large and complex ministry, long responsible for several major portfolios including agriculture, land development and rural development.
He said to fully realise the state’s potential, it is essential to optimise natural resources, train the people, and motivate the workforce, and ensure that every sector under the ministry is effectively managed.
In the coming years or terms, the state might consider restructuring the ministry to allow for greater focus and efficiency, he said.
“Perhaps we have to relook at it and be more focused on ministerial responsibilities.
“To facilitate this, up to four additional ministers may be appointed so that we can share the responsibilities. But the civil service will remain the same,” he said at the Industri Asas Tani Gemilang Gala Dinner at a hotel here last night (Jan 14).
He stressed that the key change would not be administrative but cultural.
“The only difference will be if we change our way of thinking if we are willing to step out of our comfort zone,” he added.
Dr Rundi also emphasised that agriculture should not be treated as a conventional office-hours sector.
“Agriculture is a sector that we cannot treat as nine to five, because we are dealing with living things, whether livestock or plants and that require constant care.
“We cannot just leave them like that; they will die. Therefore, this is not a nine-to-five job.
“To advance the sector, we must also embrace technology. It is the only way to move to a higher level,” he said.
