WORTHY VENTURE: Jabu (standing fifth right), Masing (fourth left) and Entulu (third left) and others in a group photo with some of the land owners after they have received their land confirmation letters.
SELANGAU: Dayak leaders who want more development in the rural areas were yesterday told the need to ensure that Barisan Nasional gets the people’s support at the impending general election.
Land Development Minister Tan Sri Dr James Masing said their aspiration to have rural areas see more development would meet resistance.
“There are always certain quarters willing to instigate the people, for instance, the landowners to shun land development scheme,” he said during the presentation of incentive payments to participants of Meruan Oil Palm Plantation at Rumah Nangkai Linggi in Ulu Maga Kanan near here here yesterday.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu Numpang was the guest-of-honour at the function.
Also present were Deputy Minister of Rural and Regional Development Datuk Joseph Entulu, Tamin assemblyman Joseph Mauh Ikeh, representative from Palmraya Pelita Meruan Plantation Sdn Bhd Thomas Tieng and Tuai Rumah Nangkai Linggi.
Masing said those up to no good would tell landowners that the schemes were part of the government’s ploy to rob them of their land.
“You know this is not true as the government is very sincere in wanting to develop the rural areas for the people,” he added.
He said the Meruan Oil Palm scheme, for one, was a joint venture deal between the landowners and the investor, Palmraya Plantation Sdn Bhd, where as the government through Land Custody and Development Authority was tasked to monitor the project.
Palmraya had spent more than RM100 million to develop the project on 6,575ha involving 797 landowners from 57 longhouses in the area, he said. It started in 2005 and the plantation has so far produced 194,820 metric tonnes of fresh fruit bunch.
Its yield was 11 metric tonnes per hectare last year while the total amount of incentive given out so far not less than RM13 million.
“I have been told by a representative of the longhouse chief, Jonathan Tubai, that prior to the scheme establishment their life was difficult.
“But now they are living quite comfortably with regular incomes.”
On politics, Masing said that Entulu would still be the BN candidate for Selangau this election.
He said Entulu had been working very hard for the people in Selangau, and deserved their support.
Jabu, who spoke later, said: “Masing and I have been appointed by the chief minister to look into the development plan for Ulu Kapit and Ulu Baram areas.
“I have been appointed chairman and Masing my deputy. We will come up with a proposal on how best to develop the areas.”
At the function, Jabu presented a mock cheque of RM3.74 million to the project Area Development Committee chairman Henry Ibat.