Salcra co-op in the pipeline — Jabu

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Jabu (fourth right) poses for a photo call with representatives of Salcra’s CSR recipients.

Jabu (fourth right) poses for a photo call with representatives of Salcra’s CSR recipients.

KUCHING: A cooperative under the Sarawak Land Consolidation and Rehabilitation Authority (Salcra) is in the pipeline pending a start-up fund from the federal government.

The announcement was made by Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu who said the cooperative would further benefit the Salcra participants.

“Talks are in progress and we are waiting for funds from the federal government to be channeled to the state government,” Jabu said at the Salcra Ramah Tamah Aidilfitri celebration at a leading hotel here on Friday. Being an entrusted institution under the state government, Salcra had proven itself to be a globally recognised entity in poverty eradication and giving land owners equal rights for opportunity since its inception in 1976.

Over the years, Salcra, Jabu said, had paid around RM600 million in dividends to the participants throughout the state due to the rise in production of their plantations notably from oil palm estates.

“The production of oil palm fresh fruit brunches has also increased by 7,000 tonnes this month compared to the same period last year,” said Jabu, who is also Salcra chairman.

He said this was made possible with the cooperation of landowners who were willing to become shareholders in the development of their native customary rights (NCR) lands. In the early years, Jabu said they faced stiff challenges to get the cooperation of the landowners who were not convinced of Salcra’s intention.

“It took years to finally convince them (landowners) to be part of Salcra. Apart from the landowners Salcra also had to train its officers at every level,” he added.

This, he said, were among key areas which had transformed the oil palm sector from a mere social development initiative into a promising commercial industry with the landowners now having their land titles. Without the support of the then chief minister Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud none of these accomplishments could be achieved, he added.

“Now, with the support of Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem, Salcra will grow further as a synergised team and be able to deliver to the people what have been entrusted by the government.”

Adenan, he added, had set Sarawak on the fast track of development through favourable policies and the focus to eradicate poverty through rural development initiatives.

Meanwhile, the dinner also saw Salcra presenting its corporate social responsibility (CSR) donations to three churches and three mosques of RM3,500 each.

They were St Luke’s Church (Sri Aman), St Theresa’s Parish Council (Serian), St Christopher’s Church (Debak), Surau Nurul Huda (Lundu), Masjid Darul Solhin (Debak) and Masjid As-Sabirin (Kabong).