Tabung Haji trespassing on native land in Saratok

The Krian assemblyman wants Sarawak Chief Minister to “update” them on the progress of “negotiations” with Najib Tun Razak on oil royalties.

KUCHING: Krian assemblyman Ali Biju has accused Tabung Haji Plantations of trespassing and occupying native customary rights (NCR) in the Entebu-Selambong area in Saratok district.

“Tabung Haji Plantations has been cultivating oil palm in that area, which was initially Native Customary Rights Land.

“The Sarawak government, through the Land and Survey Department has excised and gazetted a portion of the land under Section 6 of the Sarawak Land Code dealing with Native Communal Reserve.

“The total areas covered by the new land classification under Section 6 are 1.4ha and 1,024.8ha respectively named as Lot 480 & 489Block Awik-Krian Land District, Entebu-Selambong Saratok,” he said during the debate on the 2013 budget.

“However, currently Tabung Haji Plantations is trespassing and occupying the Native Communal Reserve Land illegally,” said PKR assemblyman Biju .

According to him Tabung Haji is “manipulating” the landowners and the state government must step in and stop the company’s actions.

“The company is manipulating innocent native landowners who have been suffering for a long time. The relevant government ministries and agencies must  stop Tabung Haji Plantations from occupying this native land area immediately.

“Tabung Haji Plantations must move out of the gazetted area and handover the land to its rightful owners immediately.

“The situation whereby native landowners take the law into their own hands must be avoided at all costs,” he said adding that the Land and Survey Department should demarcate clearly the boundaries of the native communal reserve and inform the native landowners accordingly.

He also called for urgent steps to subdivide the land individually so as to avoid overlapping claims among the landowners.

Oil and gas

Meanwhile on the issue of oil and gas, Biju asked that Chief Minister Taib Mahmud “update” the State Legislative Assembly on the progress of the negotiations involving oil royalties.

He said the state’s projected revenue for the year 2013 of RM4,150 million is lower than the actual revenue for 2012 of RM4,702 million.
“If the price of our hydrocarbon exports does not increase, we can expect lower budgets in the future.

“The Sarawak state economy is increasingly dependent on petroleum revenue. During most of the 1990’s, petroleum royalty comprised less than 10% of Sarawak’s total revenue annually.

“By the 2008 budget, the oil and gas contribution to the state’s overall revenue had increased to a massive 34%, i.e RM1,326 million out of the total projected revenue of RM3,550 million.

“Hence, any shortfall in oil and gas prices will inevitably have an adverse impact upon the state’s revenue,” said Biju whose business involves oil and gas.

He said that a high percentage of the state’s revenue for 2013, which is 39.2% of total revenue, is derived from the oil & gas sectors, compensation in lieu of oil and gas rights, as well as compensation in lieu of import and excise duties on petroleum products.

“At RM1,629 million, this figure reflects the importance of these sectors’ contribution towards the state’s economy.

“This is despite the fact that Sarawak receives only 5% of oil and gas royalties.

“In view of the huge contribution from the oil & gas sectors, I would like the Chief Minister to update the house on the progress of negotiations between himself and the Prime Minister with regard to an increase in the oil & gas royalty.

“Any increase in the royalty percentage will contribute substantial additional revenue, which can be used to improve the well-being of all rakyat. According a report from the State Planning Unit EPU 2009,” he said.

Poor allocations

Biju added that Sarawak had produced RM67.7 billion of petroleum products in the year 2008 alone.

“Just imagine how much 20% royalty would add to our state budget? How long can we Sarawakians endure this unfair distribution of our state’s wealth?

“We, the wakil rakyat are trying our very best to serve our constituents. However, without sufficient revenue, we are facing monumental obstacles.

“Almost every wakil rakyat is still requesting for construction of basic amenities such as a proper road system, steady supply of electricity and clean drinking water, and also we are still talking about poverty eradication.

“I urge the state government, together with all members of this august house to be united seriously and determinedly to negotiate with the Federal Government to increase our oil and gas royalties for the benefit our beloved people,” he said.