BETONG: More than 6,000 hectares of Native Customary Rights (NCR) land in the Bukit Saban constituency have been identified for development through strategic partnerships with the private sector, in a move aimed at stimulating rural economic growth in the area.
Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas said the initiative would be implemented through a smart partnership model between landowners and experienced private companies, particularly in the commercial development of oil palm plantations.
He said the initiative provided NCR landowners with an opportunity to optimise underutilised land to generate sustainable and long-term income.
“This project allows landowners to make productive use of NCR land that has remained idle, so it can generate continuous income for the owners,” he said in a news report by TVS.
Uggah said this after attending the Bukit Saban Socio-Economic Enhancement Programme dialogue session with about 200 residents from nine longhouses in the Ulu Paku and Rimbas areas, held at Mendit Unsu Longhouse in Penom, Ulu Paku here on Tuesday (Feb 3).
The Bukit Saban assemblyman said the private companies involved had a proven track record, having successfully developed more than 45,000 hectares of plantations under similar partnership models elsewhere in Sarawak.
He said the success of these projects had given the government confidence that a similar approach could be effectively implemented in Bukit Saban.
“The experience and track record of the private sector provide assurance that this project can be carried out in an orderly manner and benefit all parties involved.”
Uggah also assured landowners that their land ownership would remain protected, noting that the government would conduct land surveys and issue NCR titles free of charge to affected owners.
“The land will remain with the people. There is no sale of land, only development cooperation to ensure the land delivers economic returns.”
