6/3/06 KANOWIT(The Star)  -   Putaran Bijak Sdn Bhd, based in Ipoh, is to invest about RM60mil in developing about 7,000ha of Native Customary Right (NCR) land here for an oil palm plantation.

It has formed a joint venture with the Land Custody Development Authority to develop the Bijak Pelita Lesih Plantation. 

Its managing director Abdul Rashid Datuk Shaharuddin said recently that the company would develop 7,000ha under phase one, out of the total 15,000ha it was allocated.

State Land Development Minister Datuk Seri Dr James Jemut Masing had earlier launched the project at Joannes Giri longhouse in Lesih here.

“We no longer enjoy the luxury of suitable areas available for a similar purpose in the peninsula. So with the Sarawak invitation, we are more than happy to come to invest,” said Abdul Rashid.

He said Bijak Pelita Lesih Plantation is expected to begin planting next year and its first harvest would be three years after that.

“We are using fast-growing seedlings which can start to bear fruit after three years. The forecast is for us to obtain about RM11mil worth of crude palm oil in our first and subsequent harvests.”

He said the company was planning to set up a crude oil processing mill.

Abdul Rashid said it was the company’s hope that it would be allowed to continue with the second phase development on the remaining 8,000ha.

He estimated that it would cost the company about RM100mil in development cost if both phases were carried out.

The Bijak Pelita Lesih Plantation, involving about 1,800 families from 83 longhouses in the area, is the second commercial oil palm plantation on NCR land here.

The first is the Kanowit Oil Palm Plantation established in 1994 as a pioneer project on NCR land in the state. 

It is jointly developed by Boustead Holdings Bhd and Land Custody Development Authority. – Bernama