‘Project benefits take some time to be felt’

0

ALL SMILES: The villagers together with Sarudu, invited guests and Pusaka KTS executives pose for a group photograph after the ceremony.

MIRI: People should not expect benefits from socio-economic development programmes and projects to be seen and felt overnight.

“People need to understand that it takes some time and efforts for them to really see and feel the benefits from projects such as development of native customary rights (NCR) land,” said Sarawak Timber Industry Development Corporation (STIDC) general manager Datu Sarudu Hoklai yesterday.

Speaking at the signing of supplementary agreement between Pusaka KTS Forest Plantation Sdn Bhd and Kayan and Berawan communities from Long Panai, Long Terawan, Long Ukok and Long Patan, Sarudu reminded the communities not to look at such projects as a short term or one-off venture.

“The benefit from this forest planting project cannot be seen and felt overnight. It is a long term development project which will benefit both current and future generations of the communities in Ulu Baram,” he said.

Sarudu said the government welcomes such effort and initiatives in bringing development and progress to remote and rural areas such as Ulu Baram.

“Because of the geography and topography, Ulu Baram is still considered as a very hard and challenging area to be developed. It has a great potential to be developed but it needs the cooperation and support of the people,” he added.

“It is the wish of the government that every corner of the state share in the development and progress of the country,” said Sarudu.

He assured that the government always has the welfare of the people in mind before implementing development programmes and projects as it wants the local community to benefit in terms of job and business opportunities.

On STIDC, Sarudu explained that it was established to ensure the development and sustainability of the state’s timber industry to benefit both the state and the people.

He said the forest replanting was to ensure sustainability of resources and provide opportunities to the people.

At the ceremony, the community from Long Terawan and Long Panai received gifts of RM500,000 each while the community from Long Ukok and Long Patan received RM125,000 from Pusaka KTS Forests Plantations Sdn Bhd.

Present at the ceremony were Miri Resident Antonio Khati Galis, political secretary to the chief minister Robert Laing and Pusaka KTS Forest Plantation director Teresa Tang Hie Lee.