Estate obtains court order against eight landowners

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FULL SUPPORT: (Front from seventh left) George, Tieng, Shafie (behind George) and the landowners make known their desire for the company to continue operation.

SIBU: Palmraya Pelita Meruan Sdn Bhd has successfully applied for committal of order at the High Court here against eight landowners in Meruan and five of their followers who allegedly entered the oil palm plantation and harvested the fruits.

The court fixed Sept 21 for the next mention of the case.

Speaking to reporters here yesterday, Mafrica marketing and public relations manager Thomas Tieng said Palmraya had obtained court injunctions against the alleged harvesters.

He said it was contempt of court and yesterday they applied for the order of arrest.

He said that the court orders also stated that any followers, agents or their servants were not allowed to stop the company’s development project.

Tieng said more than 900 landowners in Meruan were also participants of the 60-year project which started in 2005. Those not in favour of the project were in the minority.

He explained that the joint venture project involved the developer who had 60 per cent interest, landowners (30 pct) and Land Custody and Development Authority (10 pct).

The landowners would receive RM60 per hectare per month, payable every three months regardless of whether
the company was making any profit.

“This means that the over 5,000-hectare plantation would give the landowners over RM3 million each year for 60 years.”

Tieng said the landowners saw huge benefit in the project and were therefore willing to participate in the project. After 60 years, the land would still belong to the landowners.

Yesterday, about 150 landowners who supported the project were in court to show their support for the company.

They came all the way from Selangau in three buses and a van as early as 7am. They were seen carrying banners that said ‘Kami Semua Menyokong Penuh Projek NCR Palmraya Pelita Meruan’ (We fully support the Palmraya Pelita Meruan NCR project).

One of them, George Jantan, 62, said they were against certain individuals who only thought of themselves and wanted to have their land back.

“We are strong supporters of the (Palmraya Pelita Meruan NCR) project, and we want it to continue,” he said.

He said the landowners had already signed the contract but a few among them suddenly changed their mind and wanted their land back. George said the project was beneficial to them and did not want anyone to stop it.

Meanwhile, Sibu police chief ACP Shafie Ismail said about 150 of his personnel were on standby in court in case of any untoward incident.

“I am happy that everything is okay, so no worries,” he said.