Govt asked to undertake detailed land use survey

MIRI: The Sarawak government has been called on to conduct a detailed survey of land use in Sarawak.

Keresa Plantations chairman Tan Sri Datuk Amar Leonard Linggi Jugah said this is necessary so that it is clear how much land is actually available for oil palm and other crops, what is forest reserve, and what comes under Native Customary Rights (NCR).

“Once we know what land is available, then it is easy for our government to make a long-term plan.

“For example, how many hectares for oil palm, as now the government wants two million hectares by 2020,” he said during the welcoming dinner on Friday for 108 golfers taking part in the Keresa Plantations/Mills annual golf tournament.

“If the surveys are done, we will know the final figure ... You see in the peninsula, they planted four million hectares but their hectarage is getting less and less because a lot of land has been utilised for housing and other industries.’’

Linggi said Sarawak has the potential to increase the hectarage for oil palm if the government wanted to do so.

He added that with the recent amendment to the Sarawak Land Code, where pulau galau and pemakai menoa have been recognised by the government, more Natives would want to be involved in oil palm plantations.

“They would want a different system – instead of them giving away the land they would say rent it out,” he said.

He added that the most important thing is for the government and industry to work together so that the rental system would be fair to both landowners and planters.