Was Naroden cheating?

KUCHING: Angry Ibans of Kampung Lebor about 20 minutes drive from Serian have another round of victory when they are allowed to collect oil palm fruits from their 3,000 acres of the native customary rights land which have been planted with oil palm.

In February this year, the 70 families of the village have won their civil suit against Tabung Haji when a High Court judge ordered that the 3,000 acres of the land be returned to the land owners as they have proved that the lands were their native customary rights land.

In spite of their victory, the Ibans are, however, not only disallowed to enter their own land, but were also prevented from harvesting the oil palm fruits.

They gave Tabung Haji until June 25, 2012 to hand over the land to them, failing which they would mount a blockade.

Starting on June 24, 2012 the natives mounted the blockade and would continue to do so until a decision was made.

On Tuesday afternoon, both parties were summoned to the Serian Police station accompanied by their respective lawyers.

During the discussions, both parties agreed that each party should be allowed to collect oil palm fruits from their own respective areas.

The Ibans can collect the fruits from the 3,000 acres which the Court had ordered to be returned to them.

According to lawyer See Chee How, who represented the natives, the two parties agreed to allow each other enter their own respective areas.

The Ibans are allowed to enter their own 3,000 acres and harvest the oil palm fruits, while Tabung Haji is allowed to harvest the oil palm fruits from their own areas.

As a result of this agreement, the Ibans agreed to dismantle the blockade.

See said that this is another victory for the Ibans.

Tracing the history of the case, Sigan anak Degon said that when their land was taken by Nirwana Muhibbah, a company owned by Assistant Minister Naroden Majais, the natives filed a civil suit against the company in 1998.

The case was heard in 2003, and the decision of the High Court was made on 23 Feb 2012. According to See, Tabung Haji is rather an innocent party as the original suit was against Nirwana Muhibbah, a company owned by Assistant Minister of Bumiputera Entrepreneur Naroden Majais.

When the suit was filed in 1997 against his company, Naroden was alleged to have sold the area to DD plantation. The DD plantation on realizing the problem with the natives sold the area to Tabung Haji.

According to the 2005 reports of the Land and Survey Department, Naroden has some 16,488 hectares of land, the bulk of these lands are native customary rights land.

These lands have been given to his companies namely Pelita Nirwana Muhibbah, Gedong Plantation, Hydroflow and Indranika Jaya.

Like in Gedong, Naroden’s companies in Simunjan are being sued by the Ibans for ‘stealing’ their NCR land.

More natives reporting ‘land grabs’

(Taken from Free Malaysia Today)

January 30, 2012

Within the next '10 years or less' several thousand natives in Sarawak are likely to end up being landless vagrants if the current government's policies continue.

KUCHING: Alleged land grabs involving native customary rights (NCR) properties by the Taib Mahmud-led government is reaching such “chronic” proportions that “in 10 years or less” there will be no native-owned areas, claims a prominent Sarawak NCR lawyer.

According to Baru Bian, an increasing number of cases of NCR land grabs are being reported from as far interior as Lawas in the north and Lundu in the south of Sarawak.

“From Lawas to Lundu, the NCR lands have been grabbed by the state Barisan Nasional government.

“It is so chronic that in 10 years or even less, the native landowners will have no more land left for them to farm and earn a living. And we are talking about several thousand natives being deprived of their land.

“They will therefore be forced out of their land and moved to cities and towns as their land has been given to oil palm and timber companies under the so-called provisional leases,” said Bian, who is the Ba’Kelalan assemblyman.

He said that in the cities and towns, these people will become vagrants living under bridges and becoming illegal squatters. Soon, they will create a new set of social problems.

“Already many have become scavengers and are involved in crimes and drugs. This is our main worry as they pose social problems.

“If the current government’s policy is not changed, and if the people keep on supporting the BN, this is going to be the reality,” he said.

Bian said since the state election in April, more than 50 NCR cases had surfaced and are waiting to be filed in court.

Challenge to debate Taib

 

Already more than 200 NCR land-grabbing cases are pending hearing in the High Court here.

“The number of new NCR land cases is really shocking.

“More and more natives are coming to see us with their complaints that their land have been taken away from them.

“But the government denies this. It says it never grabbed NCR land.

“And if it continues to say so, then my challenge to Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud for an open debate is still there,” said Bian.

Bian had, in February last year, challenged Taib to debate the opposition’s allegations of land grabs by the government.

Initially, Taib was ready to accept the challenge if Bian could show strong evidence to support his allegation that the government had seized NCR land.

Bian was ready with proof but the debate did not materialise as some leaders of Taib’s Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) said that Bian was not equal to Taib in stature and was not “even” an elected representative.

On April 16 last year, Bian won the Ba’ Kelalan state seat defeating BN-Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) candidate Willie Liau by 473 votes.

With the win, Bian, who is also Sarawak PKR chairman, is in a better position to debate with Taib.

“My challenge for an open debate with the chief minister is still on.

“And I insist we debate with the number one (man), that is, the chief minister himself,” said Bian.

Taib’s pilot project a failure, says Bian

KUCHING: Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud’s pilot project of 10,000 hectares planted with oil palm in the Kelibut and Maong plantations in the Kanowit District is a total failure, says Sarawak PKR Chief Baru Bian.

“This plantation is a very interesting one, because it is the brain child of the chief minister on how idle native customary right (NCR) land should be developed according to ‘konsep baru’ (new concept),” he said.

Launched in 1996 by the chief minister himself, the Kelibut and Maong plantation involved some 600 native landowners.

The interesting case is that the project was harped upon by the government all these years as the best concept through which NCR land could be developed, he said.

Bian was asked to comment on the on-going court case in Sibu where 163 native landowners are suing Boustead, Pelita and the state government for the non-payment of dividends and at the same time to nullify their agreement with the company which planted the oil palm in their land at Kelibut and Maong in the Kanowit district.

He said: “This is the first pilot project. I think there is another one in Pantu.

“The sad thing is that it is not a successful enterprise. According to the claim of the landowners, they were promised to be given dividends after four years of planting, that is, in 2000 and 2001.

“But they have never received any dividends, so they came to see us in 2009 before Gawai about eight or nine years later to nullify the agreement,” said Bian, who is a lawyer and the elected representative for Ba’Kelalan.

However, when the company heard about the landowners seeing their lawyers, the company immediately released an interim dividend of RM29 per hectare to the landowners.

“Some really received only RM29 after waiting for nine years,” he said.

Bian said that he went to check with the company on the claims made by the landowners regarding the non-payment of the dividends.

He was shocked to know from the company, Boustead, Pelita and the government that the joint enterprise had a debt of over RM130 million.

“And there is no way they can pay dividends to the landowners,” he said.

Oil palm dividends only 0.17 sen per acre per year?

KUCHING: For the past 13 years, the native landowners have been taken for a ride by the oil palm companies through the joint venture concept as the amount of dividends given to them per acre per year is about 0.17 sen, asserted a Sarawak DAP leader.

Based on figures given by Land Development Minister James Masing two years ago, Chong Chieng Jen, Sarawak DAP Secretary said that landowners who received RM2.3 million as dividends from one million acres of their NCR Land planted with oil palm through JV with companies were actually about 0.17 sens per acre per year.

“After 13 years, the landowners received that much and it sounded big. But if you do a simple calculation by dividing RM2.3 million by one million acres and by 13 years, the amount of dividend per acre per year is about 0.17 sens.” Said Chong at a Dayak Reawakening Seminar organised by Dayak Consultative Council over the week-end in Kuching.

He said that Alfred Jabu, Deputy Chief Minister, who is also Rural Development Minister tried to argue that some of the oil palm were not matured yet, resulting in low productivity.

“Assuming that it takes six years for the oil palm to mature, the amount of dividends would come to only 0.34 sens per acre per year,” Chong said.

Compared with Sarawak Oil Palm (SOP), he said that SOP had planted 70,000 acres of oil palm, and after three years it had a clean profit of RM230 million last year even though some of the oil palm were still not matured.

“So per year earning for an acre is between RM1,500 and RM2,000 given the current price of RM300 per acre per month,” he said, pointing out that that is the general profit of oil palm plantation.

“Yet the joint venture plantations that the BN government has been encouraging native landowners to do for all these years have paid out as dividends 0.17 sens per acre per year.

“The government has been saying that the oil palm plantations through the JV concept have been very successful.

“Judging by these dividends, are the Dayak landowners not taken for a ride?” he asked.

Chong, who is also the state assemblyman for Kota Sentosa said that the government has not done much in elevating the economy status of the Dayaks through the oil palm plantations.

“For the Chinese community, you cannot say this is a Dayak problem nor can you laugh at it.

“I can tell you that if the Dayaks have no spending power and no income the Chinese shopkeepers and businessmen will also suffer.

‘Likewise, if the Dayaks are rich, the Chinese also will be well off,” he said, pointing out that the country cannot progress when a single community is left behind.

“I give you the figures and statistics to show you thus far the BN government has failed to improve the economy and the education of Dayak communities,” he said.

Chong said that when the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) comes to power, it will start with a pilot project of 100,000 acres of NCR land.

“We will survey it and issue title to the respective community and the target community will decide what crops they want to plant on their land.

“And the government will give all assistance including seeds, fertiliser, technical know-how and financial support.

“For this project, NCR landowners develop their land and the government will not collect even a sen of the proceeds of the crop.

“All the proceeds from the land will go to the landowners on one condition, that is, the landowners must cultivate the land themselves.

“Ask you sons and daughters to return home from Semenanjong Malaysia to help in the cultivation of your land. There are more than 120,000 Dayaks.

“It is when young people start to come back to help in the plantation only then we can ensure our economy vibrant. For instance, one acre can yield RM300 for oil palm and if you have 300 acres, you will earn some RM90, 000. Even 50 acres will bring about an income of RM15, 000 per month,” he said.

Chong estimated that to develop 100,000 acres, it may cost the government about RM100 million.

“That is not much for the state government to throw the money at the project, because we strongly believe that this is the creation of a large group of middle income stake holders who will form the backbone of the state economy.

“This is one how we can sustain our economy and keep it rolling and vibrant,” he said.

Speaking of revenue, Chong who is also the MP for Bandar Kuching said that Sarawak’s annual revenue is about RM4.9 billion.

And the state collection from the oil royalty will also increase from 5% to 20% when Pakatan Rakyat forms the next government.

“This is extra money with which we can subsidise the Ibans, the Bidayuhs and the Dayak communities to develop their own land.

“So far the BN government does not have such a policy to help the natives. What you see now is that your lands, and most of them, are given to their cronies. And if you join venture with them, then you are subject to account manipulation.

“They say that they don’t make profits. No dividends. That is how you get only 0.17 sens per acre per year,” he said, pointing out that the Dayaks particularly the Ibans remain one of the poorest in the state.

According to facts and figures given by Alfred Jabu, there are 13,349 Iban families categorised as hardcore poor representing 47.8%, as compared with 2,925 Orang Ulu families representing 10.5% and 2,757 Bidayuh families constituting 9.8% out of 27,902 hardcore poor families among the Bumiputera.

These are the families who receive less than RM520 per family per month, he said.

Govt robbing landowners only a myth – Naroden

TEBEDU: Every single inch of the people’s land which are acquired by the government for development purposes will be compensated accordingly, assured assistant minister in the chief minister’s department Mohd Naroden Majais.

He said stories about the government robbing the people’s land, as claimed by the opposition during the recent state election, was only a myth.

“The government’s policy is clear. All land acquired for any projects will be compensated. Every single inch will be paid for, even when the projects were implemented for the benefit of the landowners themselves,” he said.

Naroden was speaking at the presentation of land compensation to 100 landowners from Kpg. Kujang Mawang, Kpg. Sain and Kpg. Kujang Plaman at the Dewan here on 23 May.

He said the compensation money amounting to RM508,667 was for the residents from the three villages whose lands were affected by the UPGRADING OF ROADS TO THE THREE VILLAGES.

COMMENT: We fully agree with Naroden that any NCR land affected by development for public purposes such as roads is certain to be compensated just like the above land.

Why did Naroden fail to mention the case of 500 Bidayuh NCR land owners from 10 villages in Tebedu whose lands were destroyed and occupied by a timber company after the forest department which is under Naroden’s ministry were not compensated?

The Bidayuhs were angry when those in authorities like Naroden, Michael Manyin, Richard Riot and the police failed to solve their problems.

Several reports have been made to the authorities until their patience ran out that was when they torched the logging camps and heavy machinery and lorries. The loss was estimated to be RM5 million.

Did the government ‘rob’ their NCR land and give it the company which has connection with the state government?

What will be Naroden’s comment on this?

POLISI PEMANSANG TANAH (NCR) BN

Nitih ka polisi pemansang tanah hak adat Bumiputra BN, tanah bala Bumiputra, lebih agi bala Iban, diserah ngagai syarikat ti bebesai, dikena nanam utai.

Taja dalam keretas bala Iban agi ngempu tanah sida, tang ia ti bendar, bala sida udah nyerah ka semua hak enggau semua tanah sida nya ngagai syarikat ti nanam utai baka sawit ba tanah sida nya.

Bala Iban ti nyerah ka tanah nadai hak nentu ka gaji sida iya lalu mega nadai nentu ka dividend ti patut dibagi ngagai sida iya tiap taun.

Hak sida ngena tanah sida nya lalu lenyau. Syarikat ti nanam kelapa sawit nya lalu nguasa semua utai.

Gaji ti diberi syarikat nya tekelalu mit sampai ka bala ti empu tanah nya tepaksa ninggal ka rumah tanah sida lalu ngiga kerja ka bukai.

Di Johor aja bisi 40,000 bala Iban bekuli. Kena 13 Mei 2009, Menteri Pemansang Tanah madah ka bisi 823 bala Iban ti ngempu NCR sida bekereja ba tanah ti udah diserah ngagai syarikat ti nanam kelapa sawit.

Tang iya mega madah 1,215 iku orang asing bekereja dalam ladang ti patut nguntungka orang ti empu tanah.

Belabuh ari taun 2006 ngagai taun 2009, kira 1,000,000 ekar tanah hak adat Bumiputra Iban udah dikena ngaga lading nitih ka skim pemansang tanah BN tu.

Syarikat nanam sawit udah mayar RM2,301,116.86 ngagai bala orang ti empu tanah. Retinya orang ti empu tanah semina udah diberi RM2.39 sekar tiap taun dalam masa 13 taun tu ti udah. Enti dikira ngena taun, sida semina diberi 18 sen satu ekar dalam satu taun.

Tu nunjuk ka bala Iban udah ditipu teruk agi ari orang ti nipu ulun.


POLISI DAP BA TANAH (NCR) BAKA TU:

Perintah Pakatan Rakyat deka nyukat sereta meri pala tanah ngagai semua tanah NCR.

Perintah Pakatan Rakyat deka meri enggau pechuma semua benih, baja enggau rachun dikena bala Iban enggau Bumiputra bukai betanam ka sawit tauka utai bukai ba tanah sida empu.

Semua untung ari utai ti ditanam bala Bumiputra di tanah sida empu sida aja.

Perintah Pakatan Rakyat enda minta satu sen pulai.

Dalam polisi DAP/Pakatan Rakyat, mayuh orang ti bisi anah deka nyadi kaya.

Sida bisi kuasa penuh atas tanah sida enggau utai ti ditanam sida. Tang ti lebih nyenang ka ati kitai, bala orang muda kitai ti bekereja di menua orang ulih pulai ka Sarawak lalu nyadi orang kaya di menua diri ditu.

Naroden the biggest taker of NCR land

KUCHING: Naroden bin Majais, assistant minister of planning and resource management, who denied that the government has never taken native customary rights land from the people, has now been identified as the biggest taker of native customary right land leased by the government in Simunjan.

“Naroden is a blatant liar to say that the government has never taken NCR land from the people, because he himself through eight companies is the biggest taker of NCR land,” said Nicholas Mujah, Secretary General of Sarawak Dayak Iban Association.

He was reacting to remarks by Naroden that the government has never taken NCR land from the people.

Mujah said: “In fact Naroden himself is among Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud’s cronies who have been given large areas of NCR land in and around Gedong and Simunjan for the planting oil palm.

“He is the one colluding with the companies,” he said, pointing out that according to the 2005 Report of Land and Survey Department, Naroden had shares in eight companies operating in Simunjan and Gedong areas.

Many of the people who become victims of this land grabbing are Ibans and Malays, some of them not only are his supporters, but also his relatives, he said.

Naroden is the state assemblyman for Simunjan.

According to the 2005 Reports of the Land and Survey Department, a total of 16,486 hectares of land, the bulk of it is NCR land has been given to the assistant minister’s companies, namely:

#1) Pelita Nirwana Muhibbah S/B given lease to develop 4,555 hectares of land at Tanjong Midin, Serian;

#2) Gedong Plantation S/B given lease to develop 3,770 hectares at Lot 2981, Batang Karang, Gedong;

#3) Gedong Plantation S/B given lease to develop 3480 hectares at Lot 2980, Gedong;

#4) Hydroflow S/B was given 2182 hectares at Lot 1226 at Batang Sadong;

#5) Hydroflow S/B was given 593 hectares at Lot 1227 at Lubuk Teba, Gedong;

#6) Indranika Jaya S/B was given 189 hectares at Lot 1228 at Tanjung Embang, Simunjan; and

#7) Indranika S/B was given 1717 hectares at Tanjung Sap, Simunjan.

Mujah said that some of the Malays in Gedong, some of them are his relatives are suing Melor Gemilang for taking away their land. Naroden is alleged to have shares in the company.

“These are what you know, but there are more companies you do not know,” said Mujah, who is also a member of the steering committee of Jaringan Orang Asal SeMalaysia (Malaysian network of indigenous people).

He cited an example of Orang Asli where their lands have been taken by the previous government of Selangor; but after a Pakatan government took over, the government revoked the case of Sagong Tasi against Government and returned the land to the owners.

“I stand to be challenged in court to prove my point that Naroden has some shares in these companies,” Mujah said, and urged the assistant minister to revoke all the pending NCR land cases in the court in order to save people’s time, money and worry.

Mujah said that Naroden was reported to be the richest man in Simunjan because of the oil palm so much so that he is locally known as the “king of oil palm in Simunjan.”

“How can he tell lie when there are more than 200 court cases whereby the natives are suing the government for taking away their land?"

All these cases are still pending in court, he said.

Commenting on the same issue, Baru Bian, a prominent NCR lawyer said a thief will never admit he is a thief nor a robber will admit he is a robber.

“The 200 cases in court is a proof that the government has been issuing provisional lease and logging licences and other licences covering NCR land.

“Naroden is known to be associated with many companies with provisional leases for oil palm plantations and he is believed to be a nominee for Chief Minister, so I don’t expect him to admit that the government is taking away NCR land,” he said.

Granda Aing slams Manyin for “stupid” statement

KUCHING: A leader of Sarawak Parti Keadilan Rakyat has described as most “stupid and senseless” a suggestion by a state minister who wants the Bidayuhs to move to town even if they are paid lowly.

A PKR vice chairman Granda Aing said that by asking them to move out of their villages “is tantamount to putting the general Bidayuhs to become coolies, waiters and waitress earning a salary below the poverty line.”

Aing, a Bidayuh from Bau, was reacting to a statement made by Michael Manyin, State minister of infrastructure development and communication.

Last Tuesday Manyin, who addressed Kampung Krusen Bidayuhs, told them to leave their villages and go to towns for jobs in the towns in order to improve their livelihood.

“If they are unwilling to do so, they may be left far behind by other communities.

“Even if they have to struggle now it does not matter as it would provide their children the right exposure to improve themselves in the future,” Manyin had said, citing the Kelabits from the Bario Highlands as the best example.

“That is the most stupid advice coming from a minister,” said Aing.

What the government should have done is to increase the wages of the Bidayuh workers in Sarawak Land Consolidation and Rehabilitation Authority (Salcra) from RM8.00 or RM10.00 per day per worker to RM30.00 per day in its oil palm plantations.

“Why can’t you pay Bidayuhs RM30.00 per person when you pay Indonesian workers RM30.00 each?” he asked.

“That does not make sense. Does it?” Aing asked, pointing out that the government must look and revamp Salcra.

He warns: “If you leave your villages, the State government will take away your native customary rights land and lease it to its cronies for the planting of oil palm.

“By the time you return home, you have no more land left. I think the minister has been asked to say it, because lands in the Bidayuh villages are good for the oil palm cultivation,” he said.

The minister should not compare the Bidayuhs with the Kelabits, as most Bidayuh villages are nearby to towns, while the Kelabits a far away in the highlands.

“What the minister should have done is to get more roads and basic amenities implemented in the rural areas.

“Help them to plant cash crops in their land so that they can generate more incomes in order to sustain their life in the villages,” he said.

What Granda Aing said is correct. Look at some of the Iban small holders involved in the planting of oil palm. Many are earning between RM3,000 and RM10,000 a month. There are many examples of these successful farmers along the Serian/Sarikei Road. And their incomes much are better than those who allowed their land to be used by Pelita and other private companies. Some have not been paid any dividends even after 10 years of operation.

SALCRA is still better than all these Pelita-linked companies. But still compared to small holdings whereby you plant oil palm in your own land, and do it yourself the income is much better than the income of those who joined Salcra.

Food for thought. – The Broken Shield

Who have “Broken Ideas”?

Deputy Chief Minister Alfred Jabu Anak Numpang on 22 May during the blessing ceremony of new Salcra building in Kota Samarahan dismissed bloggers who constantly criticise him as having “broken ideas”.

He said he had no time to quarrel with bloggers who wrote negative stories about him, particularly his involvement in Salcra.

“Some say that I have been overstayed my welcome at Salcra, but they are the ones who have broken ideas,” said the Salcra chairman, describing the bloggers as armchair critics who knew nothing about oil palm schemes.

“If they can achieve even 10% of Salcra’s performace, I will salute them,” he said.

He also expressed disappointment with a group of bloggers who attended a Salcra briefing on its oil palm schemes.

On the appointed date, they brought outsiders who were not part of their group but were busybodies from non-governmental organisations.

Jabu also slammed Democratic Action Party (DAP) for trying to stop native customary rights (NCR) land owners from participating in government eradication programmes.

This resulted in the loss of opportunity for them to earn higher income and improve their livelihood.

“This very negative attitude of DAP has slowed down the pace of development and transformation and caused the NCR land owners to remain poor,” he said.

The question is: who are actually have “broken ideas” the bloggers or Jabu?

To me Jabu has “broken ideas” because what he says are those he had said several times before. He continues to repeat them for umpteenth times. He has no more ideas; his ideas are out-dated or to use his own words “broken ideas”. He should be replaced by younger people like James Masing, Douglas Uggah and William Mawan.

I remember reading his challenge that if anyone could achieve 10% of Salcra performance, he would resign as Salcra chairman. On this Henry Joseph of Terepong Dunya Aki Andan blog challenged Jabu to a debate. Jabu made no response.

Actually Salcra production of palm oil is far below par as compared with it other plantations. Even yearly dividends given out to Salcra participants are paled in comparison with the daily earnings of smallholders from RM500 to RM1,500. It means monthly the earnings are RM5,000 to RM15,000.

On the question of bloggers attending a Salcra briefing, Jabu was simply lying as there was no invitation for bloggers to attend the briefing. It was Sarawak Dayak Iban Association (SADIA) which wished to have a briefing with them, but Salcra cancelled the briefing when three other non-governmental organisations (NGOs) were present.

Jabu’s mention of DAP trying to stop the natives from participating in joint ventures has also been said several times in the past even in the Council Negeri.

Of course Jabu’s accusation is not true. I am not trying to defend DAP. What DAP was trying to tell the public was that Jabu and his cronies have some interests in oil palm plantations.

Let us see who owns the following:

(1). Durafarm Sdn Bhd, Suite 502, Tingkat 5, Crown Towers, Kuching has three areas: Lot 17 Block 5 Bijat Land District, Simanggang – 26.625 ha; Lot 21 Block 12 Bijat Land District – 1248 ha; Lot 9 Block 3 Skrang Land District – 307.2 ha.

Total approved 1581.825 ha for 60 years on 4 December 2000. Contact person is Robert Lawson Chuat, YB for Bukit Saban, a nephew of Jabu.

(2). Durafam at the same address has five areas: Lot 30 Block 12, Paku Land District, Betong – 110.6 ha; Lot 1 Block 15 Paku Land District, Betong – 936 ha; Lot 219 Block 7 Batu Api Land District, Betong – 969 ha; Lot 36 Block 12 Batu Api Land District, Betong – 437 ha; and Lot 38 Block 12 Batu Api Land District, Betong – 219.5 ha.

Total approved 2672.1 ha for 60 years on 1 March 2005. Contact person is Robert Lawson Chuat, YB for Bukit Saban.

(3). Ever Herald Sdn Bhd, Suite 6.12 (1st Floor) Kueh Hock Kui Commercial Centre, Jalan Tun Ahmad Zaidi Adruce, Kuching has three areas: Lot 8 Block 23 Sablor Land District, Btg. Layar/Btg. Lupar – 250 ha; Lot 1 Block 24 Sablor Land District, Btg. Layar/Btg. Lupar – 770 ha; and Lot 3 Block 25 Sablor Land District, Btg. Layar/Btg. Lupar – 1853 ha.

Total approved 2873 ha for 60 years on 9 August 2004. Contact person is Henry Jantum, a close associate of Jabu.

(4). Ever Herald Sdn Bhd has three areas: Lot 180 Block 1 Bijat Land District, Simanggang – 134 ha; Lot 4 Block 2 Bijat Land District – 1930 ha; and Lot 160 Block 3 Bijat Land – 63 ha.

Total approved 2127 ha on 2 July 2004. Contact person is Henry Jantum, a close associate of Jabu.

(5). Utahol Sdn Bhd, Crown Towers, 5th Floor 88 Jalan Pending, Kuching has three areas: Lot 3682 Panduran Land District, Ulu Medamit, Limbang – 3,610.00 ha; Lot 1 Long Napir Land District, Ulu Medamit, Limbang – 2090.00 ha; and Lot 5 Long Napir Land District, Ulu Medamit, Limbang – 1,200 ha.

Total approved 6900 ha on 23 May 2000. Contact person is Gerald Rentap anak Alfred Jabu.

If you want more details as to who are the owners/directors, you need to go to Suruhanjaya Syarikat Malaysia (SSM).

On Jabu’s admission that he overstayed his welcome as chairman of Salcra Board of directors, it is simply because he has personal interests in Salcra.

Who has some contracts like the supply of fertilizers and the transportation of oil palm fruits?

Being Land Development Minister James Masing should be the chairman of Salcra board of directors as Salcra is under his charge. Jabu simply refuses to give in. Both went to Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud about it. It appears that Taib still wants Jabu to continue to be the chairman of Salcra.

On this subject of Salcra, I have heard rumours that funds of Salcra participants may be used to finance the Betong Regatta next month. I hope it is not true. However, scheme participants should keep an eye. If the funds are misused and abused, get some details and lodge a report with MACC and the Police. – The Broken Shield

Source: www.thebrokenshield.blogspot.com

Good read:

1) http://bongkersz.com/alfred-jabu-is-not-an-empty-tin-how-dare-you-think-he-is-one/

2) http://thebrokenshield.blogspot.com/2008/12/jabu-condemnation-who-will-be-next.html

Pelik, tetapi benar (Strange, but true)

Can you believe that when you lodge a police report that you have been assaulted by a gangster, that you yourself are being arrested? And can you believe that one man in Abok, Pantu was arrested a few days ago after he was found felling trees in his own land – titled land?

These strange stories are not made up, but real, real stories. Read the following story which was first published by the Malaysian Mirror.

ULU BALINGIAN – Gangsters seem to be running the show on the current native customary land dispute between a logging company, Bitani Maju Sdn. Bhd. and the Iban community of Sungai Tepus, Ulu Balingian, Mark Bujang, Executive Director of Borneo Institute Research Malaysia (BRIMAS) alleged today.

He said a group of gangsters in 10 cars have been intimidating the natives ever since the natives set up a blockade on 12 March against the said logging company.

“A total of three police reports have been made against the company, but until today no action has been taken against the company or the gangsters who are currently roaming the area,” he said in a Press statement issued to The Malaysian Mirror.

Even though the blockade has been dismantled by the police, the natives, however, still continue with their protests.

“Members of the Iban community of Sungai Tepus, Ulu Balingian are protesting against the illegal logging activities conducted by Bitani Maju Sdn. Bhd. in their native customary land territory.

“Surprisingly, it is the police that are guarding the company workers carrying out their illegal logging operations,” Mark claimed.

Last Saturday, two of the longhouse members from Rumah Osay were assaulted by a group of gangsters while they were on their way home from Selangau bazaar. One of them managed to flee but another was badly beaten up by the gangsters.

Mark said that Banyau Ak Timbang, one of the persons who managed to flee from the gangsters was riding together with Oren Ak Linggang from Selangau bazaar and as they were about to approach their longhouse junction, a car approached them.

“I noticed Penghulu Thomas Jawa Ak Latu was in the car and the driver of the car forced us to stop,” said Banyau.

“The other occupants of the car came out and we do not recognise them at all. We got into a heated argument with them and then suddenly they started attacking us”, said Banyau.
Banyau said he managed to escape from his attackers but Oren was left behind.

Oren lodged a police report on the attack at the Balingian Police Station the next day. However, instead of taking down his report, the police arrested him.

“The gangsters seem to be controlling the police and also our community leaders”, claimed Banggau ak Panggai, chairman of the joint action committee.

“Our communities are leaving in fear at the moment as the police cannot guarantee our safety. We do not want any untoward incident to happen, so we appeal to the police to take action and stop the gangsters from harassing us any further,” said Banggau. – The Broken Shield

Source: www.thebrokenshield.blogspot.com

Masing new chairman of NCR Land task force

Land Development Minister James Masing (pic above) has taken over the chairmanship of Sarawak Task Force for NCR Land Development from Deputy Chief Minister Alfred Jabu Anak Numpang effective today (2 April 2010).

Although Jabu’s supporters said he resigned from the chairmanship, it is understood, however that he has been relieved of the post.

Possible Reasons:
(a) Jabu has been the chairman of the task force since the state government started to have keen interest to venture into oil palm in the 1990s. Under his chairmanship, hundreds of provisional leases have been given to big companies to develop land including native customary rights land without the consent of the land owners. Disputes arise, therefore, between the land owners and the companies. There are now more than 200 cases of land owners suing the government and companies. So far land owners have won more than 20 cases.

(b) For the last two years, the task force seldom met, resulting in about 30 or more applications to plant oil palm have been left unattended. Some who are fed-up of waiting have withdrawn their applications. Masing did complain that the delay in approving the applications have stalled the development of oil palm in the State which has targeted one million hectares by this year.

(c) By right, Masing should be the chairman of the task force by virtue of the fact that he is the Minister for Land Development.

It is the hope of the land owners:
(i) that Masing should have better understanding of the plight and the concerns of the land owners. If the land owners do not want their land to be planted with oil palm, they should be left alone; if they want their land to be under joint venture scheme, then by all means bring them in. In this way, Masing can help minimize disputes between land owners and Pelita and companies.

(ii) that Masing should make sure the companies after receiving their provisional lease (PLs) do not bulldoze their way into people’s farms, destroying all the fruit trees, rubber trees, cash crops and sometimes their longhouses and farm huts.

(iii) that Masing should make sure that in the joint venture scheme, land owners be represented in the board of directors. Currently, the land owners are not represented in the board. LCDA or Pelita suppose to look after the land owners’ interest, but Pelita is like pagar “harapkan pagar, pagar makan padi.”

(iv) that Masing should also encourage NCR land owners to plant oil palm on a smallholding basis on their land very much like Rubber Planting Scheme A in the 1970s. Under this scheme, agricultural implements, fertilizers and subsidies were given to the smallholders. It has been noted that under smallholding the land owners benefit more than those who participated in JV or even under SALCRA. Every morning they earn between RM500 and RM1,500 a day as compared to dividends of RM300, RM500 or RM1000 per year. Very much different in term money earned.

Something for all of us to ponder! – The Broken Shield

Source: www.thebrokenshield.blogspot.com

Will Dayaks benefit from NEM?

Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak on Tuesday (30 March 2010) announced the government’s new economic plan, the New Economic Model (NEM), to ensure fairer and more equitable distribution of wealth based on needs and merits.

“Our priority must be to eradicate poverty irrespective of race. We cannot have the high-income, sustainable and inclusive economy we seek when disparities in income and not addressed.

“So there will be renewed affirmative action policy in NEM with focus on raising income levels of all disadvantage groups,” he said.

NEM’s three principles are:
# high income – making a quantum leap from a current US$7,000 per capital annual
income to US$15,000 in ten years;
# sustainability – a commitment to sustainability in economic activities with its impact on environment and precious natural resources in consideration; and
# inclusiveness – harness the potential of all Malaysians that all share in the proceeds of increased national prosperity.

NEM’s 8 strategies reform initiatives:
# Re-energising the private sector to lead growth,
# Developing a quality workforce and reducing dependency on foreign labour
# Creating a competitive domestic economy
# Strengthening the public sector
# Putting in place transparent and market friendly affirmative action
# Building knowledge base infrastructure
# Enhancing the sources of growth
# Ensuring sustainability

NEM’s 4 principles in eradication of poor:
# market friendly
# merit based
# transparent
# needs based

New economic growth areas:
# electrical and electronic sector
# resource based industries in the palm oil
# oil and gas
# agriculture, biotechnology and life sciences
# tourism, medical tourism, eco-tourism, luxury market tourism
# high value agriculture sector
# green industries and technology
# financial services industry, Islamic financial services, capital market
# information technology industry.

NEM policies are similar to policies espoused by previous economic policies such as New Economic Policy 1970-1990, National Development Policy 1990-2000, National Vision Policy and VISION 2020.

Although the past policies have achieved certain degree of successes like creating several millionaires among the Malays, they have, however, failed to eradicate poverty among the rural people especially the Dayaks.

Today, between 80 percent and 90 percent of longhouses do not have 24-hour supply of electricity and clean water. Not to mention tar-sealed roads, even rough roads have not been built to connect longhouses with bazaars and towns.

Even the “nine buses” (nine Malaysia plans) have missed the Dayaks. So today Sarawak is still the third poorest state in Malaysia despite the fact that it has oil and gas, timber resources and coal. More than half of one million Dayaks may be categorized as hard poor if the RM720 poverty line is taken as a barometer.

NEM may have high sounding policies, but such policies will not be able to help the Dayaks. In fact NEM policies will further complement “Politics of Development” espoused by Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud, that is, taking away native customary rights land of the people and leasing them to rich and powerful cronies for the planting of oil palm and trees.

In Balai Ringin alone, some 741,000 acres of land, the bulk of which are NCR lands, are to be leased to companies linked to Taib.

In other parts of Sarawak, scores of natives have been jailed for defending their rights over land and many have sued the government for taking away their lands without their consent.

Being chased away from their land, the Dayaks will surely become poorer and poorer as they have no more land on which they can plant padi, cash crops and fruit trees through which they earn a living. Perhaps they (authorities) like the Dayaks to continue selling paku, miding (ferns), bamboo shoots, tapioca leaves and other “daun babas” (wild vegetables).

Whose fault is this that we Dayaks continue to be poor? And who should be blamed for all the miseries the Dayaks are facing now? Are Dayaks themselves and Dayak leaders to be blamed? – The Broken Shield

Source: www.thebrokenshield.blogspot.com

Look after the plight of the people, says Ibi

By: Joseph Tawie
24 Mar 2010

KUCHING – Sarawak PKR Women chief Ibi Anak Uding has called on the government to provide electricity and clean water supply to longhouses in the Balai Ringin constituency in line with the government’s concept of ‘1Malaysia, People first and Performance now’.

“Although Snowdan Lawan, the incumbent State assemblyman has distributed some funds for minor rural development projects, there are about 80 % to 90 % of the longhouses which do not have 24-hour supply of electricity and more than 90% do not have clean water supply.

“Even few schools have no electricity and water,” Ibi said after a visit to several longhouses along Simunjan/Punda Road.

Ibi who has been visiting the constituency almost daily is a potential PKR candidate.

She said: “The lack of electricity, water and other infrastructure in the majority of the longhouses is a cause for concern. It appears that the situation in Balai Ringin contradicts Prime Minister Najib’s concept of ‘1 Malaysia, People first and Performance now’.

“For the past 46 years, the people’s needs are last and the performance later. The people here are worst than the animals where the animals are given first priority such as electricity and water at the Pig Farm near Jirok,” she lamented.

Ibi questioned why projects such as football fields were simply handed over to the people when they did not ask for them.

“This is wrong priority. What the people need is electricity and water,” she said.

On the question of NCR land issues which are very “hot” in this constituency, Ibi said the people’s two representatives, the State Assemblyman and the MP for Sri Aman Masir Kujat, are ignoring the misery and the plight of the NCR land owners.

“Where are Snowdan and Kujat and why are they keeping quiet? And why are they not fighting for the interests of the people?” asked by Ibi.

Ibi was referring to some 741,000 acres of land in the Balai Ringin area, the bulk of which are NCR lands which are owned by Ibans from 15 longhouses and Malays from one Malay kampong, have been proposed to be given to Cahya Mata Sarawak Bhd, Hock Seng Lee Bhd, Cocolin Industries Sdn Bhd, Poh Lian Plantation Sdn Bhd and Sarawak Economic Development Corporation.

The villagers have written a memorandum to the relevant authorities including UMNO seeking their intervention and they have also engaged a law firm to look into their problems.

Ibi expressed concern over the interests and livelihood of the people as they have been told to leave the area if their lands are untitled, failing which the Land and Survey Department in Kota Samarahan will initiate court actions.

She said that the farmers are adamant in staying in their own lands which have been passed to them by their ancestors and at the same time they have consulted their lawyers with a view to sue the government.

Ibi also expressed anxiety over another big oil palm plantation that has allegedly encroached into NRC lands at Ubah, Tekuyong, Abok and Empaling in the Pantu area.

“Several land owners have been arrested for defending their lands,” she added, pointing out that they have now sued the government and the company for the alleged encroachment.

The case was heard last week in the High Court in Sri Aman and further hearing will be held on 7 April.

Source: www.thebrokenshield.blogspot.com