TOWARDS A HEALTHY LIVING: Alexander plants a lime sapling at Dewan Penghulu Seribu in Nanga Tada to mark the health screening activity.
SIBU: Commercial oil palm projects on NCR land are part of the government strategies to eradicate rural poverty in the state.
“It is certainly not a government’s ploy to grab the people’s land,” says Ngemah assemblyman Alexander Vincent.
He said landowners who desired to earn some income from their land should not allow themselves to be influenced by some unscrupulous people to reject such project.
He told reporters this after officiating at a free health screening organised by the Seduan Lions Club, the Nanga Tada Zone 2 Neighbourhood Committee, Rela Nanga Tada, and Nanga Tada 1Malaysia Internet Centre and Kanowit District Hospital in Nanga Tada, Kanowit recently.
“I have been told that some people are going around telling landowners here not to participate in the commercial oil palm project earmarked for the Nanga Tada and Kabah areas.
“They said the landowners would be subjected to unfair treatment by the (plantation) company and they could even lose their land. The project would also destroy the environment.”
Alexander said the terms and conditions stipulated in any NCR land joint-venture had been carefully thought of and formulated by the government to protect the interest of the landowners as well as the environment.
“Furthermore, the investors are carefully screened by the government for their track record and finance,” he said.
He advised the rural folk to check with their area development committee and their leaders if they had doubts and fears. If they were still reluctant to allow their land to be used, the government would not force them.
“But if you allow your land to be used, you will enjoy the annual dividend and bonus. There will also be job and business opportunities when the project starts.”
The Nanga Tada/Kabah area (NCR land) development committee chairman, Mathew Chuat Seribu, also spoke at the function.
He said that despite the ‘intervention by outsiders”, the majority of landowners were eager to participate in the land scheme.
“So far we have the consent to develop more than 2,000 hectares. We believe more landowners will come forward to join the scheme.”
He added that although 12,000 hectares had been allocated, only about 6,000ha would be used for the project by Victory Round, a subsidiary company of public listed oil palm and timber company, Subur Tiasa Holdings Berhad.
He said this was partly due to the (difficult) terrain and soil conditions while some landowners had indicated they still wanted to keep their durian orchards and farming areas.