Masiung said that Tongod, the largest district in Sabah at 10,054 sq km, is bigger than Kedah, the nation’s rice bowl.

He said that nearly 4,000 acres had been cultivated in collaboration with local farmers, and an additional 20,000 acres would be required to establish Tongod as the largest rice producer in Sabah, reported Daily Express.

He said he hoped the state government would be agreeable to his proposal.

Sabah chief minister Hajiji Noor recently urged the state’s agriculture, fisheries and food industry ministry to take proactive steps to increase the production of rice-based foods.

To drive this effort, the state Cabinet had also agreed to revive the Sabah padi and rice board (LPBS).

Masiung said he would hold discussions with the ministry, LPBS and the agriculture department to conduct a study on his proposal as soon as possible.

“There is still a lot of land owned by residents that is not being cultivated because they only grow highland rice conventionally and lack the capability to expand cultivation due to insufficient government assistance,” he added.

In April, Hajiji officiated the groundbreaking ceremony for the RM1.2 billion clinker and cement plant in Penangah, Tongod.

The pig farming project in Kampung Entilibon, located 50km from Tongod, commenced preliminary work at the end of last year.