WORTHY VENTURE: Jabu (standing fifth right), Masing (fourth left) and Entulu (third left) and others in a group photo with some of the land owners after they have received their land confirmation letters.
SELANGAU: Dayak leaders who want more development in the rural areas were
yesterday told the need to ensure that Barisan Nasional gets the people’s
support at the impending general election.
Land Development
Minister Tan Sri Dr James Masing said their aspiration to have rural areas see
more development would meet resistance.
“There are always
certain quarters willing to instigate the people, for instance, the landowners
to shun land development scheme,” he said during the presentation of incentive
payments to participants of Meruan Oil Palm Plantation at Rumah Nangkai Linggi
in Ulu Maga Kanan near here here yesterday.
Deputy Chief Minister
Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu Numpang was the guest-of-honour at the
function.
Also present were
Deputy Minister of Rural and Regional Development Datuk Joseph Entulu, Tamin
assemblyman Joseph Mauh Ikeh, representative from Palmraya Pelita Meruan
Plantation Sdn Bhd Thomas Tieng and Tuai Rumah Nangkai Linggi.
Masing said those up
to no good would tell landowners that the schemes were part of the government’s
ploy to rob them of their land.
“You know this is not
true as the government is very sincere in wanting to develop the rural areas
for the people,” he added.
He said the Meruan
Oil Palm scheme, for one, was a joint venture deal between the landowners and
the investor, Palmraya Plantation Sdn Bhd, where as the government through Land
Custody and Development Authority was tasked to monitor the project.
Palmraya had spent
more than RM100 million to develop the project on 6,575ha involving 797
landowners from 57 longhouses in the area, he said. It started in 2005 and the
plantation has so far produced 194,820 metric tonnes of fresh fruit bunch.
Its yield was 11
metric tonnes per hectare last year while the total amount of incentive given
out so far not less than RM13 million.
“I have been told by
a representative of the longhouse chief, Jonathan Tubai, that prior to the
scheme establishment their life was difficult.
“But now they are
living quite comfortably with regular incomes.”
On politics, Masing
said that Entulu would still be the BN candidate for Selangau this election.
He said Entulu had
been working very hard for the people in Selangau, and deserved their support.
Jabu, who spoke
later, said: “Masing and I have been appointed by the chief minister to look
into the development plan for Ulu Kapit and Ulu Baram areas.
“I have been
appointed chairman and Masing my deputy. We will come up with a proposal on how
best to develop the areas.”
At the function, Jabu
presented a mock cheque of RM3.74 million to the project Area Development
Committee chairman Henry Ibat.
Sumber: Borneo Post