KUCHING: The Sarawak Land Consolidation and Rehabilitation Authority (SALCRA) will expand its economic activities following approval in principle for the allocation of 5,000 hectares of land to develop new income sources, ensuring the organisation's long-term financial sustainability.

Minister of Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development, who is also SALCRA Chairman, Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom, said the approval is an important step in supporting the transformation agenda of Sarawak's State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs).

"Our direction is clear. SALCRA must become stronger, more efficient and increasingly self-reliant financially.

"SALCRA cannot continue to depend on traditional sources of income. We need to diversify revenue sources, increase profits and explore new businesses based on our existing expertise," he said.

He said this in his speech at the SALCRA Golden Jubilee Dinner in conjunction with its 50th anniversary celebration, themed Sow, Grow, Prosper, at Hotel Imperial, Kuching on Monday.

The event was also attended by Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Abang Abdul Rahman Zohari Tun Datuk Abang Openg.

Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi explained that the SALCRA Transformation Plan 2026–2030, drawn up following the SALCRA Corporate Study in 2024, is also aligned with the Sarawak SOE Transformation Roadmap 2026–2030.

He said potential areas to be explored include green and renewable energy, bio and organic fertiliser production, food security-related activities and downstream oil palm industries.

In addition, SALCRA's expertise in managing Native Customary Rights (NCR) land, plantations and mills could be commercialised through consultancy, management and technical services.

Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi said that over its five decades, SALCRA has developed about 55,000 hectares of oil palm plantations, benefiting more than 22,000 families from over 400 villages and longhouses in Sarawak.

Since 1985, SALCRA has also distributed nearly RM1.2 billion in net proceeds or dividends to participants of its land development schemes.

He said the achievements prove SALCRA's role not only in developing agricultural land, but also in improving the socioeconomic status of rural communities through employment opportunities, income and infrastructure development.

The event also saw the launch of SALCRA's new corporate logo and the renaming of Wisma SALCRA as Menara Alfred Jabu, in recognition of the contributions of Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Alfred Jabu Numpang to the establishment and development of the organisation.

The renaming was approved by the Sarawak State Cabinet on Sept 24, 2026.

Also present were Deputy Premiers Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas and Datuk Amar Prof Dr Sim Kui Hian, Sarawak Secretary Datuk Amar Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki, state ministers and deputy ministers and other distinguished guests. -UKASnews

Prepared by: Eisner Nala
Photos: Ameerul Shafiq
Translator: Uilson Ng