MARKET DEVELOPMENT
Cut down oil palm on river banks, plantations warned
Cut down oil palm on river banks, plantations warned
16/7/07 KINABATANGAN (Borneo Bulletin) - Stop planting oil palm trees on river banks or risk getting your licence revoked by the Ministry of Plantation Industries and Commodities.
Unhappy that many have not adhered to the Sabah government's ruling to stop growing crops close to the river, Kinabatangan member of parliament Datuk Bung Moktar Radin sees no other choice but to seek federal help so that plantations will take the matter seriously.
A riparian reserve is important for ecological and wildlife reasons.
Bung's constituency in eastern Sabah, which is almost the size of Pahang, is home to Sungai Kinabatangan, which at 560km is the second longest in the country and is also an important spot for the palm oil industry.
He said 60 per cent of the river bank was planted with oil palm. He added that he would speak with the federal ministry to get its help to freeze licences.
"I will get the Kinabatangan district officer to identify errant companies and then we will get support from the federal Ministry of Plantation Industries and Commodities.
"I am also asking the Sabah government, through the Land and Survey Department, to issue notices to these companies to take action within six months."
Unhappy that many have not adhered to the Sabah government's ruling to stop growing crops close to the river, Kinabatangan member of parliament Datuk Bung Moktar Radin sees no other choice but to seek federal help so that plantations will take the matter seriously.
A riparian reserve is important for ecological and wildlife reasons.
Bung's constituency in eastern Sabah, which is almost the size of Pahang, is home to Sungai Kinabatangan, which at 560km is the second longest in the country and is also an important spot for the palm oil industry.
He said 60 per cent of the river bank was planted with oil palm. He added that he would speak with the federal ministry to get its help to freeze licences.
"I will get the Kinabatangan district officer to identify errant companies and then we will get support from the federal Ministry of Plantation Industries and Commodities.
"I am also asking the Sabah government, through the Land and Survey Department, to issue notices to these companies to take action within six months."