KOTA KINABALU: The State Cabinet has agreed to revive the Sabah Padi and Rice  Board as part of the initiatives to boost food production and ensure food security in the  State. 

Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Hajiji Haji Noor said the revival of the Board was  imperative since Sabah currently imports about 70 per cent of its rice needs. 

“Sabah needs to boost its food self-sufficiency and we will be able to do it with the revival  of the Sabah Padi and Rice Board,” he said. 

"The State Cabinet will submit the recommendation to the Head of State for the approval  of the establishment of the Sabah Padi and Rice Board as stipulated in Section 3 of the  1981 Agriculture Produce Board Enactment," he said at the Chief Minister's Department  post-cabinet meeting at Menara Kinabalu today. 

In a decisive move, the Chief Minister said the State Cabinet has also agreed to give  special permission to investors operating in industrial parks in the state to set up power  generation facilities for their own use. 

"This move is important to attract investors and sustain those already in operation  affected by electricity issues," he said. 

Hajiji said in the bid to ease the power demand in Sabah, the Cabinet has also decided  to allow shophouses, buildings and residential premises to install solar power systems  without seeking approval from Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd (SESB). 

On the Sabah My Second Home programme (SBH-MM2H), the Cabinet has also  approved the age limit of applicants to 30 years above and allowing participants of the  programme to sell their property after five years on condition they must purchase a new  home valued at no less than RM600,000. 

Hajiji said under the new policy, appointment of the SBH-MM2H agents must be from  local Sabah companies. 

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