Efforts by the DD Plantations and Pelita Holdings of Sarawak to turn about 9,629 hectares of Native Customary Reserve (NCR) land in the Kampung Semalatong/Isu/Kepayang area in the Simunjan district into an oil palm plantation have been derailed.

Several Tuai Rumah (TR) (longhouse chiefs) and more than 160 families made a stand against the company which had to back down after vehement protests and objections.

sarawak simunjan ncr land issues 140708 02 They had objected that more than 3,200 hectares of the NCR land was to be included in the plantation.

Last Monday, the families led by six longhouse chiefs sought legal advice from a prominent lawyer regarding their NCR lands that have been earmarked for the oil palm cultivation.

Speaking on behalf of the families and other Tuai Rumah, TR Sipi Anak Narang said that following their meeting with the lawyer, a letter was drafted and faxed to the Managing Director of Pelita Holdings.

The letter, which included the list of the families, stated that the people wanted to register their strongest objection against the inclusion of all "our temuda lands, pulau galau (territorial domain) and pemakai menua" in any scheme of development undertaken by any government agencies.

Another affected landowner, a 64 year old lady, Daha Anak Penghulu Nunsang, has also submitted a letter to the Pelita managing director protesting against the inclusion of her 10 pieces of land in the proposed oil palm plantation.

No surrender of land

In a letter to the company, she said that she was not going to surrender her land rights and condemn her "children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren to becoming mere labourers" in their own family land.

She also said that she did not want to be seen as the person who "ordained them as foreigners in the country they are born, strangers in their own kampung, and mere servants in their own household, "adding that she was prepared to protect her property rights in the courts of law.

ncr sarawak land dispute blockade in simunjan 020708 01 In April this year DD Plantations, a Kuching based company and Pelita Holdings had agreed to jointly develop the Semalatong Kepayang area of 9,629 hectares of NCR land into an oil palm plantation.

DD Plantations claimed to have signed an agreement with 2,000 landowners from 46 longhouses to develop their land on April 29 this year at a leading hotel.

According to the alleged agreement, the DD Plantations would provide the expertise and an investment of RM140 million as well as getting 60 percent of the profits, while the landowners would enjoy 30 percent and Pelita, being a managing agent would get 10 percent of profits.

In addition to the NCR land, the DD Plantations and Pelita are also scheduled to develop 5,000 hectares of state land in the area.

As the inhabitants race against time,work on the proposed plantation are scheduled to begin at any time.