10/10/2011 (The Star) - The Land Development Ministry is considering four alter-native models to ensure a productive development of native customary rights (NCR) land.

The four models are leasing, profit-sharing and nucleus out-growers (private sector driven), and management and profit-sharing (government-led).

The four models were recommended by the Government Transformation Programme (GTP) Sabah-Sarawak Lab held last year.

Minister Tan Sri Dr James Masing said the alternative models were being considered because response from landowners under the new concept of NCR development introduced in 1994 had been luke- warm.

“After more than 10 years of implementing the concept, it has brought unsatisfactory result.

“So we are considering the alternative models because we want it to benefit all the stakeholders in the land development.

“The ministry is serious in eradicating rural poverty and this can only be done if the land is productive,” he told a press conference after closing a work-shop on NCR Land Development Revisited: Alternative Models for NCR Land Development here yesterday.

Under the new concept, a joint venture to develop NCR land is formed between the private sector as investor owning 60% of the share, the landowners who own 30% and the managing agent representing the government and the rights of the participating landowners who holds 10% for a 60 years period.

However, as of April 30 this year, only 55,988 hectares of land had been developed into oil palm plantation under the concept by 38 joint companies.

The lukewarm response was due to the low dividend paid out to the participating landowners and not on time too due to the high gearing involved as the investor had to source for the necessary fund to develop the project without any public fund.

Masing said besides oil palm, rubber would also be seriously considered as an alternative crop to be planted.

“This is because rubber is more prominent now because it is a high price commodity now,” he added.