Stephen Rundi Utom

Summary

Datuk Seri Dr Stephen Rundi Anak Utom is the GPS-PBB assemblyman for N69 Kemena in Sarawak, a seat he has held since 2011, and currently serves as Sarawak's Minister for Food Industry, Commodities and Regional Development [1][2]. He also holds the position of Vice President of PBB within the GPS coalition. His ministerial work spans rural electrification, agricultural modernisation, food security, and commodity development for Sarawak.

Biography

Datuk Seri Dr Stephen Rundi Anak Utom is a Sarawak state assemblyman representing the N69 Kemena constituency under the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) coalition, affiliated with Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) [1]. He holds the position of Vice President of PBB [1]. He first contested the Kemena seat in the 2011 Sarawak state election as a BN-PBB candidate [3]. He retained the seat in the 2016 state election under BN-PBB with a majority of 4,868 votes [4], and again in the 2021 (12th) Sarawak state election under the GPS-PBB banner, securing 6,339 votes representing approximately 44.5% of votes cast [5]. Following the 2021 election, Sarawak Premier Abang Johari Openg appointed him Minister for Modernisation of Agriculture and Regional Development in the new cabinet announced on 30 December 2021 [2]. His portfolio was subsequently retitled Minister for Food Industry, Commodities and Regional Development [6]. Prior to the December 2021 cabinet reshuffle, he served as Sarawak Minister of Utilities [2]. The Kemena constituency is located in the Bintulu Division of Sarawak and has a population of approximately 47,149 as of 2020 [7]. Dr Rundi carries the honorific 'Dr', indicating a doctoral or medical qualification, though specific educational details could not be independently sourced from the allowlist for this profile.

Known for

Dr Stephen Rundi is known for his long tenure representing the Kemena constituency in the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly, having held the seat across at least three consecutive state elections since 2011 [3][4][5]. He has served in successive Sarawak state cabinets, overseeing utilities policy and, most recently, food industry, commodities, and regional development [2][8]. He holds the position of Vice President of PBB, one of the anchor parties of the GPS ruling coalition in Sarawak [1].

Political positions

As Minister for Food Industry, Commodities and Regional Development, Dr Rundi has publicly advocated for the industrialisation of Sarawak's agriculture sector, describing a need to shift from low-income, unskilled farming into a high-income, professionally managed sector to address Sarawak's food trade deficit [6]. He has spoken on the need to expand rice self-sufficiency, noting that Sarawak's self-sufficiency level for rice was approximately 32–36% and that the state needed to significantly increase domestic production to reduce import dependency [6][9]. He has also addressed the state's rubber industry transformation, supporting corporate-community-public partnerships to consolidate abandoned rubber estates [2]. During his earlier tenure as Minister of Utilities, he oversaw rural electrification programmes, including the Sarawak Alternative Rural Electrification Scheme (SARES), under which the Sarawak Government allocated RM2.37 billion for 2019–2020 to accelerate rural electrification with a target of full coverage by 2025 [2]. On animal disease management, he has addressed issues including African Swine Fever and rabies control in Sarawak, with the state government aiming for zero rabies deaths by 2030 [4].

Political career

1. 2008Referenced as Kemena state assemblyman while attending a PBB divisional installation ceremony alongside Deputy Chief Minister Alfred Jabu, indicating he was already serving as the Kemena representative by this period.⛓
2. April 2011Contested the N60 Kemena seat in the 10th Sarawak state election as a BN-PBB candidate.⛓
3. May 2016Re-contested and won the Kemena seat (renumbered N69) in the 11th Sarawak state election under BN-PBB, with a majority of 4,868 votes.⛓
4. 2019–2021Served as Sarawak Minister of Utilities, overseeing rural electrification programmes including SARES, with the state government allocating RM2.37 billion for 2019–2020 to accelerate rural electrification targeting full state coverage by 2025.⛓
5. November 2020As Utilities Minister (GPS-Kemena), nominated Dr Nuing Jeluing for re-election as Dewan Negara Senator from Sarawak during the State Legislative Assembly sitting.⛓
6. December 2021Re-contested and won the N69 Kemena seat in the 12th Sarawak state election under the GPS-PBB banner, receiving 6,339 votes (approximately 44.5% of votes cast).⛓
7. 30 December 2021Appointed Minister for Modernisation of Agriculture and Regional Development in Sarawak Premier Abang Johari Openg's new cabinet following the 2021 state election.⛓
8. 2022–presentPortfolio retitled to Minister for Food Industry, Commodities and Regional Development. Oversaw policies on rice self-sufficiency, rubber industry transformation, pineapple plantation expansion, and rabies control.⛓

Election history

• 2021Kemena (N69), Sarawak DUNWon44.5%⛓
• 2016Kemena (N69), Sarawak DUNWon⛓
• 2011Kemena (N60), Sarawak DUNWon⛓

Perspectives on key issues

• GovernmentAs a senior GPS-PBB minister and party vice president, Dr Rundi represents the Sarawak state government's position that Sarawak's food security, agricultural industrialisation, and commodity development must be driven by state-level planning, modernisation, and corporate-community partnerships rather than reliance on federal subsidies.⛓
• VerifiedFactsDr Rundi has served continuously as the Kemena assemblyman since at least 2008, winning state elections in 2011, 2016, and 2021. He has held cabinet positions in successive Sarawak governments covering utilities and, subsequently, food industry, commodities, and regional development. His 2021 election result showed a vote share of approximately 44.5% in a five-cornered contest.⛓