Jong (third left) presents a mock cheque to the landowners as Francis (left), Lye (fourth left), George (fifth left) and recipients look on.
SARIKEI: DPO Pelita Bintangor Sdn Bhd recently disbursed the first stage upfront payment to participants in a joint-venture palm oil plantation project at Loba Bunut Hulu Bintangor.
The joint-venture company between DPO Plantations Sdn Bhd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Asia Media Group Berhad and Pelita Holdings Sdn Bhd, made the payment in a ceremony held at Rumah Rentap Balang, Teluk Batu, Bintangor recently.
A total of RM211,516.80 was paid to 155 to owners of about 440 hectares of native customary rights (NCR) land who had agreed to develop their land under the joint-venture deal with DPO Plantation Sdn Bhd holding 60 per cent; the participants at 30 per cent and Pelita Holdings Sdn Bhd at 10 per cent.
Of the amount, RM52,931.80 was in the form of cash while another RM158,585 was in the form of ASSAR unit trust.
Similar payment to owners of some 487ha of NCR land in the area – involving a total of RM234.096 – was expected to be disbursed soon, he added.
The joint-venture NCR development scheme would benefit the land owners as soon as the project commenced.
“Landowners will receive the stated incentive annually in addition to the upfront payment in the form of cash and unit trust. The project will also provide business and employment opportunities to the local community especially the younger generation who studied and worked outstation,” he added.
According to DPO Pelita Bintangor Sdn Bhd and Asia Media Group director Paul Jong, the project was launched last year by Deputy Chief Minister, Tan Sri Datuk Amar James Jemut Masing.
“The project was expected to benefit about 600 residents from 120 families living in 10 longhouses in the area that was in anticipation of all owners of some 1,921 ha.
“About 1,152 of NCR land in the area – which was suitable for planting – agreed to participate in the project known as Loba Bunut, Bintangor Bumiputera Customary Rights Land Development,” he disclosed. The overall investment in the Loba Bunut Hulu oil palm plantation project was estimated to be in the region of RM30 million and the amount could be increased further depending on the eventual size of the area involved, he explained.
Among those present were Land Custody and Development Authority (LCDA) senior manager George Lenton, manager Francis Kiyuk, DPO director Jeff Lye and chairman of Area Development Committee, Gara Legok.