KUCHING: The development of a Furniture Industrial Park in Sarawak is seen as a vital catalyst in attracting new investments and transforming the landscape of the local furniture industry which is currently still dominated by small-scale enterprises.

Sarawak Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan said the provision of a complete and conducive industrial area is crucial to meet the needs of investors and stimulate the growth of the sector in a more organised manner.

“Right now, the furniture industry in Sarawak is not yet highly developed and is usually driven by family-run businesses. We do not want it to remain that way.

“We have abundant materials, we have all the resources, and that is why we want to develop this Furniture Park so that we can attract investment and enhance the industry.

“Our resources come not only from natural forests, but increasingly from planted forests, and this will support the development of the timber industry based on high-value products. We are therefore in a very conducive position to move forward,” he said.

He said this when met by reporters after the Sarawak Timber Industry Development Corporation (STIDC) 2026 Ramah Tamah Aidilfitri event at Wisma Sumber Alam, on Friday.

The Second Minister for Natural Resources and Urban Development (MUDeNR) added that the planned furniture industrial park will be implemented in stages, beginning in Kuching before being expanded to Tanjung Manis to cover the central region of Sarawak.

According to him, the project has been approved under the 13th Malaysia Plan with the development site already identified, and is now awaiting allocation for implementation.

At the same time, the Minister for International Trade, Industry and Investment also explained that Sarawak has an advantage in terms of raw material resources including timber from planted forests which can support sustainable industrial growth.

Apart from that, he said alternative materials such as bamboo are also seen as having strong potential to be developed into high-value furniture products.

Earlier, Datuk Amar Awang Tengah officiated the inauguration of the upgraded Wisma Sumber Alam Tower Lobby.

Also present were Deputy Minister for Urban Planning, Land Administration and Environment Datuk Len Talif Salleh, MUDeNR Permanent Secretary Datu Abdullah Julaihi, STIDC General Manager Datu Zainal Abidin Abdullah, Forest Department Sarawak Director Datu Hamden Mohammad, as well as other invited guests. -UKASnews

Prepared By: Nur Nabilla
Photo: George S. Embie & Douglas Demong
Translator: Nerissa Sia