Over 3,000 families to benefit from oil palm plantation project
KENINGAU: Over 3,000 families from 13 villages involving Lumiri, Pohon Batu and the surrounding areas will benefit from the development of 14,780 acres of land for an oil palm plantation.
Pensiangan Umno division chief Datuk Abdul Ghani Yasin said the project was approved by the State Cabinet in 2015 and was developed by the Sabah Land Development Board (SLDB)
“The development of the area, now being undertaken by SLDB Plantation Development Sdn Bhd, would certainly be beneficial and could remove families involved from the poverty line,” he said after visiting the farm on Saturday.
According to Ghani, Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Musa Haji Aman and his Cabinet ministers in the Barisan Nasional (BN) had looked at the program which would benefit the locals when approving the area to the people.
Ghani said the government is concerned and is striving to increase the income and upgrade the people's lives by giving them the opportunity to improve their lives by creating more jobs and in doing so improve their standard of living in the long run.
He said so far, about 1,500 acres have been developed and the project is expected to be fully planted with oil palm within three years.
Earlier, Ghani launched the first program of SK Pohon Batu as the adopted school of SLDB Plantation Development Sdn Bhd held at the school.
The program aimed at providing a platform for partnerships between schools, parents, local community leaders and government agencies to support students and schools.
In this program SLDB Plantation Development Sdn Bhd becomes the adopted parent of the school.
While addressing at the program, Ghani emphasized on the importance and benefits of the program to schools and the whole community.
He said students and schools not only received annual funding from the corporate body involved, but also gained experience through activities between school and its partner.
According to Ghani, the adopted school program aims to help rural students in rural areas improve academic performance as well as encourage rural residents to make academic a base for achievement progress.
The program, which also involves volunteers from Pensiangan Umno members going to the ground to assist students with a variety of activities to ensure the success and implementation of sustainable programs.
At the event, SLDB Plantation Development Sdn Bhd and Pensiangan Umno Division made contribution of RM5,000 to the school's Parent-Teacher Association (PIBG) which was handed over by Ghani.
Ghani also handed over school bags to more than 30 schoolchildren.
Also present were the school headmaster, Denis Gaipit, Pensiangan Umno Youth chief, who is also SLDB board member, Jehan Osman, and representative of SLDB Plantation Development Sdn Bhd, George Teo.