KINABATANGAN: The Suan Lamba settlement project has contributed significantly to the economic and social development of settlers.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman said the Suan Lamba settlement project was open in 1971, pioneered by the late Datuk Seri Panglima Pengiran Digadong Mohd Galpam Pengiran Indar, who was then a prominent local leader and former member of parliament for Lamag and Kuala Kinabatangan.
“The scheme involves an area of 3,074.79 acres inhabited by 215 settler families,” he said when officiating at the 40th year celebration of Suan Lamba scheme here on Friday.
The text of his speech was read by the chairman of Sabah Land Development Board (SLDB), Datuk Sapawi Ahmad, who is also the Sipitang assemblyman.
Through the settlement scheme, a house and a quarter acre of housing lot had been allocated to each settler family.
Other basic amenities like roads, health clinics, schools, mosques, electricity supply and community halls were also provided.
“These infrastructural amenities reflect the positive progress of the scheme and the capability of the government to fulfil the needs of the people in the rural areas,” he said, adding that the settlers should appreciate all the efforts undertaken by the government.
“What is even more important, the settlers should not dispose of their land lots to outsiders to gain immediate short-term benefit.
“Instead, they must strive harder to ensure a better future through the settlement scheme,” Musa said.
Recognising the benefits obtained by the present settlers through the scheme, including the benefit of higher price of fresh fruit bunches (FFB) of oil palm in the market presently, Musa said the government plans to take in additional settlers to be involved in the settlement to be managed by SLDB.
He also urged the people to grab the opportunity to participate in the settlement scheme and all settlers would continue to support the policies for a better future for all.