Jamawi Reaffirms Commitment to Rural Development in Melalap

28 December 2025

TENOM: The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industry, Datuk Jamawi Jaafar, has reaffirmed his commitment to assisting rural communities, particularly in the Melalap State Constituency (DUN).

Jamawi, who is also the Melalap State Assemblyman (ADUN), said his priority is to uplift the dignity and well-being of farmers, smallholders and fishermen, most of whom fall within the B40 income group.

He expressed his appreciation and gratitude to all voters in the Melalap area for placing their trust in him as their elected representative for the next five years.

“Now is the time to work for all the people in the Tenom and Melalap areas. There are no longer any issues of who supported whom or who voted for whom. Now is the time to work and help the people as a whole,” Jamawi said.

He also welcomed the presence of the Minister of Rural Development, who is also the Kemabong ADUN, Datuk Rubin Balang, as well as the Member of Parliament for Tenom and Chairman of the Intellectual Property Corporation of Malaysia (MyIPO), Riduan Rubin.

“There are many more programmes, especially in the interior areas of Tenom and Kemabong. We will move in parallel so that we can do our best for our areas, and likewise for our state,” he said.

“Today we celebrate Christmas together regardless of religious background or ethnicity… I will provide the best possible service and will voice all the needs of the Melalap constituency in the State Legislative Assembly,” he said when officiating the Melalap DUN 2025 Christmas Open House at the Datuk Sanggau Jalang Hall here today.

According to Jamawi, even before assuming office he had announced an approach to strengthen the Kitchen Garden initiative as a platform to positively impact as many people as possible.

“I want to open up the widest possible space and opportunities for our villagers to be involved in agricultural activities within their own homes at low cost… God willing, we will launch it early next year,” he said.

“I see many initiatives that we will endeavour to implement to help our people, to bring in more allocations and to drive more progress in agriculture, the economy for young people, and in relation to the needs of agricultural roads.

“Hopefully, even if next year’s allocation is not as large as expected, we anticipate that the process of returning 40 per cent of tax revenue to Sabah, which is currently being finalised by the State and Federal Governments, will be able to help more farmers, livestock breeders, fishermen and food industry operators so that we can support them in a better and more effective manner,” he added.

Commenting on the festive spirit, Jamawi said Christmas carries a universal message of love, acceptance and togetherness that resonates deeply with the multicultural and multifaith people of Sabah.

“Events like this are not merely celebrations, but opportunities for us to get to know one another better, strengthen relationships and appreciate differences as a shared strength,” he said.

He expressed hope that by 2026, the spirit of friendship would continue to be strengthened to ensure that the ministry’s plans and agenda can be implemented more effectively.

Jamawi, together with his wife Datin Zainatunnisa Ibrahim, wished all residents of the Melalap constituency a Merry Christmas 2025 and a Happy New Year 2026.

Also present were the Kemabong District Assistant District Officer (ADO), Zakaria Jamal; the Tenom District Chief, OKK Tusib Tulas; as well as members of the Tenom District Council and local leaders from the Melalap constituency.