Minister hands out 300 Sabah avocados to MPs, media

The Agriculture and Food Security Ministry today distributed 300 avocados grown in Tawau, Sabah, to MPs and members of the media in Parliament.

Tawau Municipal Council member Philip Yap Wui Lip said the distribution was part of efforts to promote local produce through Top Borneo Sdn Bhd, which operates the avocado farm under the brand Borneocado.

According to Yap, Borneocado produces the Quion Hill avocado variety (QAV1), developed over 10 years by the Bukit Quion Agricultural Research Station under the Sabah Agriculture Department’s supervision.

“This variety not only yields high output, but also has premium qualities such as thick flesh, a small seed, creamy texture, and sweet taste.

“A single ripe fruit weighs about 500 grams, and a mature tree can produce up to 200 fruits per season,” he said in a statement.

Present were Agriculture and Food Security Minister Mohamad Sabu, his deputy Chan Foong Hin, and representatives from the company.

Juicy spotlight

Last month, avocados were in the spotlight after the government announced an expansion of the sales and service tax (SST) to include imported fruits.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said the move was aimed at taxing the wealthy.

He suggested the decision would mainly affect those who consume expensive fruits such as avocados.

The announcement was met with criticism, with some quarters pointing out that imported fruits like apples and oranges are also part of the daily diet for the B40 income group.

Following the backlash, Anwar later announced that apples and oranges would be exempted from the tax.

The expanded SST - which includes a five percent tax on imported fruits - came into effect on July 1. Local fruits are exempted as they do not meet the criteria for taxable goods under the Sales Tax Act.

Yap said QAV1 avocados can be harvested within three to four years of planting and are well-suited for tropical climates with minimal maintenance.

“The seedlings are sold for between RM45 and RM65 per tree, while fresh fruits can fetch RM18 to RM25 per kg,” he said.

He added that local companies like Borneocado are ready to ramp up production to meet both local and international demand.

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