SIBU: The residents of Sekuau Resettlement Scheme are urging the state and federal governments to intervene and put an end to their dispute with the Federal Land Consolidation and Rehabilitation Authority (Felcra).
Sekuau Area Development Committee (JPKS) chairman Councillor Henry Kanyan said Felcra has failed to pay them dividends from their nearly 28 years of participation in an oil palm plantation scheme.
“We only started receiving dividends in 2011 (for an oil palm plantation scheme that began in 1996). In 2011, we received RM3,712.87 each, and that was only after we insisted on it.
“In 2012, we received RM2,523.34, in 2013 (RM1,380.27), in 2014 (RM964.71), in 2015 (RM704.81), in 2016 (RM3,105.60), and in 2017 (RM2,196.95).
“Meanwhile, we did not receive any dividends in 2018 or 2019. In 2020, we only received RM52.48, and we also did not receive dividends in 2021. In 2022, they only paid an interim RM1,205.72,” he said in a press conference at a hotel here today (Oct 7).
Henry said that each of the 404 participants has only received RM16,349.76 since their participation in the oil palm plantation scheme.
“The land is actually our Native Customary Rights (NCR) land, as it was given to the 404 participants by the state government in 1972 for farming.
“In 1993 (after the government acquired the land for development purposes for only RM8 per hectare), Felcra began planting pepper, cocoa, and later oil palm (in 1996).
“They were appointed by the Federal government to uplift our living standards through agriculture,” he said.
However, he said up until today, not only has Felcra not paid the dividends accordingly, but they have also not provided any aid, as has been provided by Felcra in other places.
“We did not get any education aid, development projects, and more. But when the people’s representatives (YBs) wanted to bring in development projects into the Sekuau area, they were rejected, as all needed Felcra’s approval.
“Without approval from Felcra, nothing can be changed in the resettlement area, and this has resulted in Sekuau not being able to further develop,” he said.
He also said that they were unaware of any development projects brought in by any parties, as they were not briefed.
“All we see is that suddenly things (buildings or infrastructure) have been completed regardless of our approval or needs (as it was only discussed with Felcra),” he said.
Henry stressed that they had been sending letters to all relevant ministers, such as both Deputy Prime Ministers Datuk Patinggi Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof.
“We even delivered our memorandum to Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah (during the Kembara Kenali Borneo), and we have lodged a police report on this matter twice,” he said.
Therefore, the 288 out of 404 participants who have signed the memorandum hopes that the government will hear their plea and intervene to settle the issue once and for all.
“As Felcra has now ceased its operation, the oil palm plantation remains unattainable. We cannot harvest the fruit, as we will be assumed to be ‘intruders’ as the land is still under Felcra.
“We have been loyal voters for both the state government and federal government; please hear our plea,” he stressed.
