SIBU: Four hundred and four landowners in the Sekuau Resettlement Scheme who are involved in oil palm plantations are disappointed that Felcra has not paid them any dividends for the past two years.
Chairman of the Sekuau Village Development and Security Committee (MJKKK) Councillor Henry Kanyan Vincent Rawing said that the MJKKK and the Sekuau Longhouse Chief Association which represented 30 longhouses were in the process of taking legal action against Felcra over the matter.
“We have held talks with the MJKKK’s legal team to initiate the court’s action on the failure of Felcra to pay the dividends and to perform CSR (corporate social responsibility) programmes as promised. I have also discussed the matter with Sibu Resident Office and Selangau District Office,” he told reporters.
Henry said Tamin assemblyman Christopher Gira Sambang had also been briefed on the matter and had personally attended a meeting with Felcra to discuss the non-paying of the dividends.
“However, to date, there have been no positive response from Felcra. Our people’s representatives (Gira) has also repeatedly raised the matter with the relevant ministers but there is still have no satisfactory answer.
“As a result of this lackadaisical attitude, we have conducted a survey and asked all the people in Sekuau whether they are still in favour of Felcra as their developer or to choose other government agencies that might bring better benefit for their venture,” he said.
“Felcra does not care for the welfare of the residents. It does not perform any CSR programme for the residents,” added Henry.
“I have also noticed that the oil palm estate is not well managed by Felcra and many of the oil palm bunches have not been harvested.
“How is Felcra going to reap profits if the oil palm fresh fruit bunches are not taken care of? It is our right as the participants in the scheme to ensure the developer benefits from it so that it can provide good dividends to us,” he added.
