SYMBOLIC: Jabu beating a gong to launch the welcoming dinner.

17/09/2012 (Borneo Post) - Sarawak Land Consolidation and Rehabilitation Authority (Salcra) is confident it can pay more than RM100 million in dividends to its 22,000 participants in 19 estates this year despite the falling price of oil palm commodities.

Its chairman Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu said this confidence stemmed from prudent management and high productivity.

“We were able to pay more than RM100 million in dividends last year and we are confident that we can pay the same amount to our participants this year,” he said during a dinner for some 100 visitors from Apoh in Baram here recently.

Federation of Orang Ulu Malaysia (Forum) president Senator Lihan Jok, Telang Usan assemblyman Dennis Ngau and Opar assemblyman Ranum Mina were among those present.

Jabu, who is also Deputy Chief Minister, said those who participated in Salcra programmes had been receiving good dividends without fail over the years in spite of uncertain economic climate.

He explained that the primary role of Salcra was to help people in the rural areas to fully develop their land to improve their living standard and to eradicate poverty.

He added that Salcra was now trying to help the people of Apoh to develop their land to address poverty.

“The area (in Apoh) can be transformed into an oil palm estate to generate new economic activities.”

Jabu expressed confidence that if the people there participated in this development programme, they would enjoy good returns in eight to 10 years time.