Deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said it would involve 2,159ha in Beluran and Kota Belud in Sabah, and 2,680ha in Batang Lupar, Sarawak.

“The plan for a total of 50,000ha is meant to be a long-term plan, but so far, 4,839ha have been approved for development (padi cultivation) in Sabah and Sarawak,” he said during the question-and-answer session.

Zahid, who is also the rural and regional development minister, was responding to a question from Shafie Apdal (Warisan-Semporna) regarding the 50,000ha padi planting project in Sabah and Sarawak.

He said the plan to develop the areas for padi cultivation, aimed at improving the country’s self-sufficiency level, had been discussed with Sarawak premier Abang Johari Openg and Sabah chief minister Hajiji Noor.

He said Felcra Berhad had been tasked with developing the area into large-scale padi estates, following its success in developing more than 4,500ha for padi planting in Seberang Perak.

“Felcra borrowed US$50 million from the World Bank to develop the Seberang Perak padi estate and has repaid the loan.

“A total of 4,500ha has been developed, producing five metric tonnes per hectare or 22,500 metric tonnes per season,” he said.

To a question from Ismail Abd Muttalib (PN-Maran) on abandoned land to be developed, Zahid said Felcra would look into the potential to increase food security other than rice, like chicken, eggs and meat.

“There are various categories of land under Felcra, the underutilised or even unutilised land that we are developing,” he said.