Kota Kinabalu: Parti Warisan Vice President Datuk Junz Wong dismissed claims that Pitas had become Sabah’s food security stronghold as election-season propaganda, challenging the logic behind federal efforts to promote paddy cultivation in an area ill-suited for rice farming.
The former Agriculture and Food Industry Minister criticised Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu’s recent statement, arguing that Pitas known for poor irrigation and frequent droughts is fundamentally unsuitable for large-scale paddy cultivation.
“Why introduce paddy farming in Pitas when cash crops like pineapple, coconut and durian, or industries like bird nest farming, would be far more viable?” Junz said.
He challenged the minister’s assertion that the Paddy Estate Modernisation Project’s expansion from three to six plots, along with RM1 million worth of tractors and equipment, justifies declaring Pitas a food security hub.
“Without proper irrigation, claims of doubling yields from three to six metric tonnes per hectare are technically impossible. These are political optics, not agricultural breakthroughs,” he said.
Junz pointed out that since 1979, the State Government has recognised Terusan Sapi in Beluran — not Pitas — as Sabah’s main rice-producing zone due to suitable soil and irrigation conditions.
He noted that during Shafie Apdal’s tenure as Chief Minister, the Warisan government first proposed reviving the Sabah Padi Board based on scientific and economic feasibility, while implementing strategic initiatives like inviting Linaco Manufacturing to develop a 30,000-acre coconut plantation in Pitas and building 150 bird houses through the Sentuhan Burung Walit programme.
“Those were real plans designed to guarantee farmers’ income—not publicity stunts,” Junz said, urging the Federal Government to respect facts and local realities instead of misleading rural Sabahans with pre-election theatrics.
