Owners assured of land ownership in JV projects
KANOWIT: Land owners involved in oil palm joint venture projects here can heave a huge sigh of relief now that the ownership of their land is recognised.
Ngemah assemblyman Alexander Vincent said this was so following the issuance of ‘ Land Confirmation Letter’ by Land Custody and Development Authority ( LCDA).
“This document guarantees the land owners’ asset in case the land ownership is disputed in the future,” he said when officiating at the presentation of the letters to 14 longhouse chiefs and Area Development Committee (ADC) chairmen of a joint venture project known as Block B and D Kanowit here yesterday.
The joint venture under Boustead Pelita Kanowit Sdn Bhd was approved by the state government on Jan 1, 1996 and is thus a pioneer of sorts in such project in Sarawak.
Block B and D Kanowit comprise a total of 12,639ha of planted areas out of the 14,400ha gross area.
The joint venture involves 1,801 registered participants from 856 doors of 93 longhouses covering Mapai, Bawan, Jih and Pedai (Block B), and Kelimut and Maong ( Block D).
The j/v agreement between the investor Kuala Sidim Berhad, LCDA and the participants was signed on May 6, 1998.
Meanwhile, a total of RM58.759 million in dividends and upfront payments have been paid out as up to Oct 30 this year.
Alexander said the project faced many obstacles when it was first started, including disapproval by local people who claimed the government only wanted to take away their land.
“But now many have come to realise how such project is benefiting them economically.
“I believe the project has brought many benefits to the participants and Kanowit in general since it started 20 years ago,” he said.
Alexander also urged the land owners to have their land surveyed under the new perimeter survey initiative since the government has allocated RM30 million for the purpose under Budget 2018.
Meanwhile, LCDA Agro Business manager Francis Kiyuk disclosed that a total of 14,639ha in Kanowit had been planted with oil palm out of 43,000ha approved by the state government.
The rest are in the process of being planted, he said.
Boustead Estate Agency Sarawak general manager Rozaini Abdul Ghani and representative from the Ministry of Modernisation of Agriculture, Native Land and Regional Development Danny Lansdale Rajau were also present at the function.
This document guarantees the land owners’ asset in case the land ownership is disputed in the future. Alexander Vincent, Ngemah assemblyman