Oil palm joint venture developers urged to mind local interests
KANOWIT: Oil palm joint venture scheme developers here have been asked not to neglect social aspects of the local community while helping to improve the local economy.
Kanowit District Officer Katis Noel Nyabong said his concern was the road safety issue especially after Kanowit bridge becomes fully operational by the end of this month.
“We can expect a growing number of vehicles including lorries laden with fresh oil palm fruit bunches travelling along Ngungun-Poi Road.
“Let’s pay attention to the safety part so there won’t be any incidence in the future.
“We want development but along the way, it should not create social issues or problems with local people,” he said before the presentation of incentives for the Kabah Tada native customary rights ( NCR) land development project on Saturday.
Ngemah assemblyman Alexander Vincent officiated at the function held at Penghulu Seribu multipurpose hall in Nanga Tada here.
A total of 126 people who took part in the project received incentives totalling RM179,969 which was distributed in conjunction with the Gawai Dayak celebration.
It was the third incentive payout to the participants after the project kicked off in 2012.
The project covers 7,222 hectares ( ha) in Kabah, Tada and Mapai. As at May 20, it has 1,237ha planted with 181 registered participants.
Alexander who spoke later cautioned the people to be careful of individuals offering to develop their land on a joint venture basis without consulting the authority concerned such as Land Custody and Development Authority ( LCDA).
“It can be a trick. Who knows the so- called developer might only be interested to get the timber in the area and he will leave after he is done.
“This will cause disputes among the people like what happened in Ulu Ngemah,” he said.
Among those present were Tada Area Development Committee (ADC) chairman Tuai Rumah Mathew Chuat, Penghulu Ugap Seribu, Subur Tiasa Holdings chief financial officer Lim Choo Tad, LCDA senior manager George Lenton Indang and Ministry of Modernisation of Agriculture, Native Land and Regional Development representative Davis Johiea.