ID :
209443
Mon, 09/26/2011 - 13:16
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/209443
The shortlink copeid
DON'T QUIT OIL PALM DEAL, SARAWAK NATIVE LAND OWNERS TOLD
SIBU (Sarawak, Malaysia), Sept 26 (Bernama) -- Sarawak Land Development Minister Dr James Jemut Masing on Monday told owners of native customary rights (NCR) land in Kanowit not to renege on their agreement with Malaysian conglomerate Boustead Holdings Bhd and the state Land Custody Development Authority (LCDA).
He reminded them that the agreement they signed in 1996 to jointly develop their land for commercial oil palm cultivation was still legally binding.
A website report had said that some 160 Iban landowners in Kelimut and Maong in Kanowit were planning to nullify the agreement, which is effective for 60 years, for purported non-payment of dividend and bonus as scheduled.
According to the report, they also planned to sue Boustead, LCDA and the state government.
Masing said: "The story about some landowners wanting out is just rumour at the moment.
"If there are landowners who want to quit the deal, we must find out the cause of their dissatisfaction," Masing told Bernama here.
Boustead has invested about RM400million (US$125.4 million) in the project, the East Malaysia state's first commercial development involving NCR land.
It has been allocated 14,000 hectares to develop. So far, it has planted and harvested more than 10,000 hectares.
In March this year, it paid out dividends totalling RM3.37 million (US$1.06 million) to the participating landowners from more than 100 longhouses.
Masing said that his ministry was exploring ways to make the Kanowit Oil Palm Plantation project more profitable.
He reminded them that the agreement they signed in 1996 to jointly develop their land for commercial oil palm cultivation was still legally binding.
A website report had said that some 160 Iban landowners in Kelimut and Maong in Kanowit were planning to nullify the agreement, which is effective for 60 years, for purported non-payment of dividend and bonus as scheduled.
According to the report, they also planned to sue Boustead, LCDA and the state government.
Masing said: "The story about some landowners wanting out is just rumour at the moment.
"If there are landowners who want to quit the deal, we must find out the cause of their dissatisfaction," Masing told Bernama here.
Boustead has invested about RM400million (US$125.4 million) in the project, the East Malaysia state's first commercial development involving NCR land.
It has been allocated 14,000 hectares to develop. So far, it has planted and harvested more than 10,000 hectares.
In March this year, it paid out dividends totalling RM3.37 million (US$1.06 million) to the participating landowners from more than 100 longhouses.
Masing said that his ministry was exploring ways to make the Kanowit Oil Palm Plantation project more profitable.
