DCCI thanks Uggah, state govt for resolving land issue involving Dayak oil palm farmers
Rosey Yunus, Assistant Minister of Women, Family and Childhood Development
KUCHING: The Dayak Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) is thankful to Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas and the government for resolving a recent issue involving oil palm smallholders without land title.
Its president Datuk Joseph Salang Gandum said he had personally pleaded with Uggah, who is also Minister of Modernisation of Agriculture, Native Land and Regional Development, on this issue affecting many Dayak smallholders and was happy to see it quickly resolved.
“For that, we thank the Deputy Chief Minister and the government,” he said when addressing a dialogue during DCCI’s 15th anniversary dinner on Sunday night.
Now that the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) has withdrawn its earlier decision to freeze the renewal and issuance of titles to smallholders on untitled lands, Salang said efforts are ongoing to not allow this to happen again.
Stressing that DCCI is a nonpolitical and non-partisan organisation despite having members from both sides of the political divide, he said all of them are equally concerned over matters concerning Native Customary Rights ( NCR) land of the Dayaks. He informed that several members of the DCCI supreme council sit in the committee now doing the amendments to the Sarawak Land Code which is expected to be tabled in the State Legislative Assembly in May.
Though the land issues are “politically seductive”, he said it would not be of much use to politicise such issues as this could be misunderstood by the people.
Salang mentioned these when he and DCCI advisors Tan Sri Datuk Amar Leonard Linggi Jugah and Tan Sri Datuk Amar Leo Moggie took a question from a member of the audience regarding NCR land and the effect of the MPOB circular in November on Dayak smallholders since their NCR lands were not yet issued with titles.
The lively dialogue saw Linggi providing his input on getting Dayaks to be involved in digital economy while Moggie talked about the wish to see Dayak businesses expanding globally.
Meanwhile, the dinner also saw the presentation of memberships to 28 new DCCI members and also the handing- over of donations totalling RM58,000 from members, including two who wished to remain anonymous, to DCCI’s coffers.
The dinner organising chairman and DCCI deputy president Kilat Beriak said the dinner, themed work or construct a retaining wall to prevent further erosion.
The Bekenu assemblyperson went on to praise Subis District Council and Subis District Office for their quick action in putting up danger signs and using plastic sheets to cover the loose soil at the affected area.
“We hope to find a solution, including strengthening the wall ‘Embracing Strategic Technology’ was held to commemorate DCCI’s 15th anniversary since its inception on January 11, 2003.
He also said DCCI has now grown from strength to strength with almost 800 members at present.
A video presentation on DCCI’s upcoming new headquarters at Jalan Ong Tiang Swee was also screened at the dinner. Prior to the dinner, a two-minute silence was observed as a mark of respect to former DCCI deputy president Tan Sri Celestine Ujang who passed away last Wednesday.
Dignitaries present included State Legislative Assembly deputy speaker Datuk Gerawat Gala, Assistant Minister of Industries and Investment Malcolm Mussen Lamoh, Tasik Biru assemblyman and DCCI advisor Dato Henry Harry Jinep and Kadazan Dusun Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Datuk Bonopasius Blanis. of the cliff, to continue bringing tourists to visit Tusan Beach.”
Tusan Beach is famous for its ‘ Blue Tears’ phenomenon as well as its cliff, which resembles a horse drinking. Tourists flock to the beach each month to immerse in its natural beauty and view the sunset.
Subis District Officer Hussaini Bakir, as well as representatives from DID, NREB, JKR and Subis District Council were among those present yesterday.