Labuan durian import curb may be eased
Published on: Tuesday, November 22, 2016
Labuan: Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Ministry Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek had agreed to review some of the agriculture import procedures applied to Labuan such as quarantine for durians brought from here and Sarawak.This Minister gave this assurance of relaxation of rules after Labuan Member of Parliament Datuk Rozman Isli spoke in parliament last Friday asking all MPs to help Labuan from its present dire economic straits such as over-regulations and mentioned that the procedures to imports products from even neighbouring are subjected to quarantine procedures.A recording of this session in parliament on November 17 was widely shared on the Whatsapp platform.
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It showed Rozman voicing the concerns in Labuan and saying "we seem to be neither here nor there."He cited the example of durian imports and also the requirements for the export of tuna which would be landing at the site established by the Fisheries Development Authority (LKIM).He said the plan was to process the tuna brought in from deep sea fishing grounds and project it would generate both economic and tourism benefits and for further development of the enterprise, support was needed from the ministries.Rozman called for firm decisions and action to address Labuan's concerns.
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Shabery in his response said that he shared the concern of the Labuan MP and explained that the quarantine procedures had been introduced here for all agricultural and agro-based products because as a Federal Territory it was a separate entity.He explained the procedures were not only imposed in Labuan for import but also in Sabah, Sarawak and in West Malaysia and the propose was to prevent diseased products entering the State and causing outbreaks of diseases as the recent case of Foot and Mouth outbreak in Sabah. The procedures also imposed no costs to the importers.
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"However, in the case of durian imports, since many come here to enjoy durian and would be disappointed to find none, as such would affect hotels and other businesses, we would relook at issue in Labuan," said Shabery.As for tuna export, Shabery said that tuna fetched high price of RM500 or more in American and Japanese markets and quality should be of high standards.He said before proceeding further on this export what needed to be considered was the logistic support available here. He said there should be direct flights from here to the destinations, the fish should not be delayed export once processed.Semporna MP Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal lent support to Rozman by pointing out that it was not impossible to change existing rules and cited the case of the need of using passports to enter Sabah and Sarawak "but now we could enter the two states using MyKad."He added that rules should also take into consideration the human aspect. He said the movement of agricultural products from Sabah had been for years in progress and benefited the farmers and fishermen.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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