Kota Kinabalu: Sabah Fish Marketing Sdn Bhd (Safma) is committed to further strengthening the State’s fisheries industry through technology, digitalisation, cold-chain systems and value-added products.
Its chairman Datuk Mohammad Mohamarin said the efforts were aimed at supporting the State and Federal Governments’ efforts to ensure national food security.
He said Safma’s participation in Malaysia Agriculture, Horticulture and Agro-tourism Exhibition (MAHA) 2026 was not merely to showcase its products but also served as a platform to introduce Sabah’s marine resources to the public, industry players and investors.
“This is in line with the MAHA 2026 theme, ‘Value Creation for Food Security’. Safma is focusing on promoting Ikan Rakyat Sabah as a frozen seafood product with potential for expansion into wider markets, including Peninsular Malaysia.
“For Safma, fish is not merely a source of protein but part of an economic chain involving fishermen, transportation, processing, marketing and consumers,” he said.
He said this after visiting the Safma booth at the Sabah Pavilion during MAHA 2026 at Malaysia Agro Exposition Park Serdang (MAEPS) here.
Mohammad said strengthening the entire value chain, from landing, handling and cold-chain management to processing and marketing, was among Safma’s current priorities.
He said rising operating and labour costs, as well as climate change, were among the main challenges facing the industry, requiring a more modern approach through technology, data and efforts to reduce post-landing wastage.
“Safma also sees the blue economy as a major opportunity to increase the value of marine resources sustainably through processing, value-added products, fisheries technology, cold-chain systems and marine biotechnology.
“We want the sea to continue generating economic value while ensuring marine resources are preserved.
“Safma also aims to create a more investment-friendly ecosystem and open up opportunities for the younger generation in marine technology, processing, logistics, digital marketing and entrepreneurship,” he said.
Mohammad said Safma’s goal was to strengthen the value chain so that more economic benefits could reach local fishermen and operators, while developing a modern, competitive and sustainable fisheries industry.
Also present were Safma general manager Burhan Japar, deputy general manager Aziz Ali Amat and members of its board of directors.
