By Jaythaleela K
MIRI, Nov 2: Area development committees have big roles to play in coming up with plans and proposals to develop their respective areas which can then be forwarded to government for consideration.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas said the government was supportive of such committees as they were in the best position to tell the government “what the people want and what they want to do.”
He said this when receiving a courtesy call from the San Area Development Action Committee led by its chairman penghulu Anthony Kule Lalo and his committee members at a hotel here yesterday.
The San area in Telang Usan has about 10 Kenyah longhouses and one Penan longhouse comprising 220 families. It is in the newly created Highland Development Agency (HDA) area.
Uggah said that with HDA, they would see many developments especially in infrastructure, economic, education and social fields coming in within the next two years starting 2019.
He said the HDA area also had vast potentials in agriculture activities like kelulut honey production, coffee growing, Tagang fish rearing and tourism.
Uggah who is the Minister for Agriculture Modernisation, Native Land and Regional Development (MANRED) said the government was encouraging people to go into modern commercial agriculture due to better management, productivity and returns.
“The private sector is expected to be the main player in this respect.
“When they invest, they will also invest in infrastructure development which will benefit the people besides creating jobs,” he said, adding that a suitable model on joint ventureship between landowners and investors would need to be worked out to see a win-win situation for both sides.
He said that Sarawak Land Consolidation and Rehabilitation Authority (Salcra) would be asked to identify suitable sites there for agriculture land use and to pinpoint the boundaries between Native Customary Right land and state land.
Later he announced a grant of RM20,000 for the committee.
Anthony, in his speech earlier, said it was the people’s hope for San to be elevated to a sub district which would help them in official matters. — DayakDaily
