PAMI Receives Financial Boost
By Rosli Abidin Yahya

Bandar Seri Begawan - Local chicken farmers association Persatuan Penternak Ayam SME Melayu Islam Brunei (PAMI) received much-needed financial boost when the Islamic Development Bank of Brunei (IDBB) promised to furnish the association as well as offering its members business loans.

PAMI president Hj Jamahat Hj Liman said three officers from IDBB visited its office in Jangsak last Tuesday, revealing the guidelines towards business loans for association members to diversify their businesses.

"We were briefed on the guidelines in applying for loans as well as for the association to help its member.

"We definitely need loans in the region of millions of dollars to help the association to construct hatcheries, closed houses, abattoir, and chicken-feed factories.

"The mentioned projects have been ongoing but faced with financial constraints. The offer by IDBB will help us realise the projects," he said.

Hj Jamahat expressed the association's gratitude towards IDBB for the offer of financial loans as they would help its members realise their dreams of supplying halal chicken to the Muslim population in the country.

"It is our commitment, or fardhu kifayah, to supply halal chicken to the Muslim community in the country, as well as to other nations.

"The promise of financial loans would therefore be a boost to our commitment to supplying guaranteed halal chicken to the local population as well as Muslim in other nations if we feel that we have the capability to export our products in the future," he said.

On behalf of PAMI members, he also thanked the Department of Agriculture and the Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources for helping the association speed up member applications and solves their problems.

"We are also grateful to the Mutant Abattoirs for their continued support towards the local chicken farmers by buying and marketing our products," he said.

PAMI was formed a year ago to unite the once divided SME chicken farmers so their grievances would be heard by relevant agencies.

Since its formation, the association has been able to deliver the goods to its members, totalling some 26 local chicken farms nationwide.

"We have been able to provide a proper storage area for our members and a site for the proposed hatchery which will be operational by next year. But most importantly, we are able to unite local

SME chicken farmers," he said. He also said the association will be opening various outlets nationwide to supply certified halal chicken to Muslim consumers in the country.

"We will also be making donations and contributions to non-profit organisations in the country such as the orphan fund and welfare associations, so Muslims who purchase through the association's outlets will indirectly be doing it for a good cause," he added. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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