HIS MAJESTY HAS CONSENTED TO HARVEST "LAILA" RICE

As the former Director of Agriculture, I am very happy indeed to see that the Government has targetted 20% and 60% self-sufficiency in 2010 and 2015 respectively...... this was my "dream" in 1988 when I took over the Department of Agriculture, but then there was no political will at that time as we all know that rice is always a political crop, not an economic one.... I only managed to privatise the Wasan Rice Project before I was quickly moved to the Forestry Department.... however, during my one-year stint back to the Agriculture Department in 1995, I have invited the private sector to plant rice on a trial basis at the "abandoned" Wasan Rice Project, but I almost lost my job because of this, luckily just being transferred and down-graded to become the "Principal" of Sinaut Agriculture Training Centre...... it takes over two decades to realise that the "magic" 3% self-sufficiency is not good enough for the country after repeated calls on this matter from our benevolent and caring Ruler....... now my wish is for the authorities to look at the technologies of growing rice commercially further a field as far as Australia and United States......

CONGRATULATIONS to the Director of Agriculture and her dedicated staff for being able to produce the Medium Term (2009 - 2013) Strategic Plan Implementation Programs..... Your Honourable Minister of Industry and Primary Resources and other stakeholders must be very pleased with the programs...... A strong publicised National Agricultural Policy and an effective Strategic Plan will be the key and very important part of our National Food Security........

It is a pleasure meeting old friends again.... both Awang Lim Jock Beng and Awang Jumat bin Alim were very dedicated and hard working senior staff of the Agriculture Department when I was their mentor then......

This decorated and tiled outdoor badminton court could be the first one in the world!

WHILE we are away from our Home Sweet Home in Melbourne, our plants are flowering and fruiting under the warm weather of Spring season....... just waiting for us to come back before Christmas.......