06/11/2013 (Borneo Post) - Song will have the potential to become an important oil palm production area once the Song-Kapit road is completed in the next three years.

A political secretary to the Chief Minister Tengku Gruna believed that once the road is completed thousands of hectares of native customary right (NCR) land which remained uncultivated for commercial farming, could be developed to provide job opportunities to thousands of longhouses folks.

“As we are looking forward to Vision 2020, we are anticipating that Song will be developed for oil palm plantations so that the people too will benefit from it.

“That way, they too can have a higher income through this land development programme,” Tengku told The Borneo Post here yesterday.

He said currently, the Song-Kapit road project has been implemented steadily and he was confident that it would be completed soon.

“Once the Song-Kapit road is completed, the government can then build more feeder roads that can link it to the longhouses in the areas,” he said, adding that all the elected representatives of the area namely Kapit MP and
Deputy Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Alexander Nanta Linggi and Katibas assemblyman Datuk Ambrose Blikau have been doing their part in ensuring that the road will be completed in the very near future.

He said the NCR land in Song district covering both sides of the Rajang River land is expected to be developed by Salcra for oil palm plantations.

Tengku also disclosed that besides land development, Song too has a bright future in the eco-tourism industry as the renowned Lanjak-Entimau Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the district.

“The Lanjak-Entimau Wildlife Sanctuary will have a great potential for eco-tourism as it is well-known for its Orang Utans and other exotic species of flora and fauna,” he said.

He said other eco-tourism products such as homestay programme in the 140 longhouses located in the area and the proposed Katibas raft safari could also be harnessed for its tourism potential.

“The Katibas River is also home to some exotic fish species such as ‘semah’ and ‘empurau’,” said Tengku, who is a former banker.

Meanwhile, Tengku disclosed that the Pesta Song scheduled for this weekend is expected to draw a huge crowd to the remote riverine town.

Among the activities will be water-based activities such as a regatta and speedboat race. The programme was organised in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of the formation of Malaysia.

Both Nanta and Blikau are expected to be present at the closing ceremony scheduled to be held this Sunday.