Sarawak Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud said today that he never benefitted financially from the Native Estate, which he introduced to develop bumiputera land in the state.

He said there was no basis for the allegations of certain quarters that he was trying to seize land from the people with the concept, which was really to raise the living standard of the owners.

"I introduced Native Estate, but my salary stayed the same. There was no increase because there was no commission,” he said.

Taib, who is also state minister of planning and resource management, was launching a Lubok Nibong-Dabai-Pasir Puteh native customary right land development project in Marudi.

He said the Native Estate concept was introduced following the success in developing about one million hectares of state land in collaboration with private plantation companies.

Taib said the Native Estate concept created cooperation among the owners, government agencies and private plantation companies to develop bumiputera land.

Landowners not exploited

He said the rights of the owners on the land were preserved while the value of their property was increased even as they received dividends from their participation in the joint venture.

Through the concept, Taib said, the perception that bumiputeras-owned property that had no value was removed.

He said that certain quarters had exploited lack of understanding of the concept to frighten bumiputeras into thinking that the government wanted to take away their land.

"There is no reason for us (the government) to seize people's land," he added.

- Bernama