KUCHING: The proposed establishment of the Department of Fisheries Sarawak is expected to be tabled at the Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting later this year, pending finalisation of key details and coordination with federal authorities.
Food Industry, Commodities, and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom said his ministry is currently ironing out various aspects of the proposal, including cross-referencing with the Fisheries Development Authority of Malaysia (LKIM).
“We are still fine-tuning several details. Once everything is in place, we plan to table it, either in the May or November sitting,” he told reporters after officiating at the Sarawak Land Development Board’s (SLDB) new corporate office and logo launch at the Dayak Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) building here today.
Dr Rundi stressed the importance of presenting a thoroughly prepared proposal.
“We can’t afford to present anything ‘half-cooked’ in the DUN, or it will be rejected. Everything, from the ordinance to the administrative framework, must be complete and in order,” he said.
He added that the ministry is also studying the model used by Sabah, which already has its own fisheries department, to better structure Sarawak’s equivalent agency.
While the federal government has granted Sarawak the authority to issue permits and deep-sea fishing licences for Zone C2 waters, Rundi noted that other jurisdictional issues remain unresolved, particularly those related to the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) and control over the continental shelf.
“Once those matters are settled, we can move forward,” he said.
During his ministerial winding-up speech at the DUN sitting last year, Dr Rundi had announced that the ministry was in the final stages of preparing the proposal for submission to the state cabinet.
The proposed Department of Fisheries Sarawak is envisioned to lead the development of the fisheries sector in the state while ensuring the sustainable management and conservation of marine resources for future generations.
“We are also drafting proposed amendments to the Sarawak Fisheries Ordinance, 2003 (Chapter 54), to provide a modern, comprehensive legal framework for managing Sarawak’s fisheries and natural resources.
“This includes harmonising relevant legislation to ensure long-term sustainability in the sector,” he said.
