AUSPICIOUS OCCASION: Entri (second left) handing over the mock cheque to Penghulu Engah Muga.

08/04/2013 (Borneo Post) - A total of 534 natives who participated in the PJP Pelitia Ulu Teru Plantations Sdn Bhd joint venture project were all smiles when they received cash incentives totalling RM1.03 million on Friday.

The occasion was made merrier when 203 NCR land owners from 11 longhouses received their land ownership certification from the Land Custody and Development Authority (LCDA).

The cash incentive was for the year 2012 and the payout to the 534 beneficiaries ranging from RM125 to RM29,075.

The total land area of the 203 NCR land owners is 4,032 hectares.

Assistant Minister of Modernisation of Agriculture (Farmers Organisation) Datuk Sylvester Entri Muran said the Ulu Teru oil palm project had proven critics wrong about NCR land ownership and its benefits.

“The cash incentive of RM1.03 million is the highest but what is even better is the land ownership certification document from LCDA, which shows the map of the individual lands,” said Entri, who is also Marudi assemblyman.

“This proves critics wrong for alleging that the government is taking away NCR lands.”

He added that this land development scheme had also created jobs for the locals, led to the construction of roads to villages, and opened up opportunities for many longhouse residents to earn extra income.

Rural infrastructure and amenities also improved, where some longhouses now have access to the national broadband initiatives, thus enabling them to have Internet access.

Entri commended the Area Development Committee led by Penghulu Engah Muga for ensuring that the project was a success.

“I hope the success in Ulu Teru will inspire NCR land owners in Selepin Block, Sungai Bok and Puyut-Lubok Nibong Block to participate in such development schemes.