LAWAS: At Long Sukang in the south of Lawas, workers and machines are busy processing and packaging coffee, branded “Linawa Coffee”, inside a newly-built factory.
The Linawa coffee production is part of Petronas’ sustainable socio-economic empowerment programme for the Lun Bawang community in the highland. It is being implemented in collaboration with Universiti Teknologi Petronas (UTP), Yayasan Khazanah, Suruhanjaya Koperasi Malaysia and Malaysian Agriculture Research and Development Institute (MARDI).
The Linawa coffee products – the Adan Arabica Coffee (a mixture of Beras Adan & Arabica Coffee) and Roasted Arabica Coffee – are already sold in mini markets across Lawas and at selected Petronas Mesra & Mini Mesra dealerships across Sabah. They are also sold in online shopping platform, Shopee.
The Lun Bawang community is confident that Linawa Coffee will be a key driver that can improve their earnings and livelihood. They are convinced that the coffee products will complement their traditional export, the Adan rice, cultivated in the pristine highlands and valleys of Lawas. The Adan rice products are also being marketed under the Linawa brand.
The brand is inspired by the Lun Bawang ethnic artistry signifying exclusivity, intricacy, and excellence. It was established in November 2022 with the product’s pilot tests taking place a year later.
Linawa serves as the signature product of the community in Lawas, offering organic products with unique variants originated from an inclusive grassroot social innovation based on Lawas’ indigenous heritage.
“PETRONAS has been working together with the Long Sukang community leaders to develop the products. The Linawa production house and products will be managed entirely by Koperasi Long Sukang,” said M Shamad Ahmad, Manager (Stakeholder Management) Petronas SSGP project.
Liwana, a premium coffee and rice brand
Professor Dr. Shahrina Md Nordin, director of the Institute of Self-Sustainability Building (ISB) at Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS (UTP), said the ‘Adan’ rice comes in three varieties: white, red, and black.
In an experiment conducted by the institute, Dr Sharina said the black ‘Adan’ rice, when combined with Arabica coffee beans, emerge as a nutritional powerhouse with exceptional antioxidant content.
Dr. Shahrina said sensory testing and customer verification at the institute revealed a resounding preference for Linawa coffee, with an impressive 70 to 80 percent of participants choosing this extraordinary blend.
“The coffee products are manufactured using traditional method, the age-old practice of dry-frying rice without oil until it turns black, and then grinding it to make coffee,” she said.
She added that the immediate goal for this project is to grow the market share locally.“Eventually, we hope to grow the brand internationally. This is possible with active community participation through training, hand-holding, and continuous support,” she said.
Towards Uplifting Lives Programme (TULIP)
TULIP Lawas is a Petronas socio-economic empowerment programme to upskill and upscale the local communities living along the Sabah-Sarawak Gas Pipeline (SSGP) operation area.
Under the TULIP programme, Petronas implemented the water gravity project at Kampung Tang Pau, Lawas; Long Seridan, Limbang and Long Kawa in Baram. The energy company also implemented electrification projects at Long Selulong, Long Latei and Long Kerangan in Baram. The company also trained and upskilled the Lun Bawang community to embark on coffee and rice production, packaging, marketing and branding programme.
“I have been involved in the Linawa initiative from inception. I have learnt the entire value chain of the coffee industry while acquiring knowledge on how to effectively carry out the marketing and customer service,” said Jenny Alau Baru, chief of Koperasi Usahasama Sentral Long Sukang.
This Linawa initiative has also created more than 100 jobs for the Lun Bawang community.
“Today, we are selling the coffee beans and rice that we grow here under the Linawa brand. We hope to expand our product line so that we can showcase Sarawak’s products to the outside world. If we can capture a significant market for our coffee and rice products, this will translate into better income and livelihood for our people here,” she said.
“Many other locals who have been involved in the manufacturing of the coffee products under the Linawa brand have been greatly impacted by this programme as they are now able to market the output from their farms to a wider market,” she added.
