By Karen Bong
KUCHING, Nov 21: Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg advises the various native communities to not sell but develop their land once the land titles have been issued to better their livelihood.
“With land and title, don’t sell the land. This is our problem. Title issued, tomorrow already start to negotiate (to sell). No more land, ask (from government) again.
“There are such cases where owners applied to convert their native land to mixed zone including Malay areas, and I am sorry if you don’t like me, ‘apa boleh buat lah’ (what can be done).
“If that happened, you will not have land any more just because you want the money. If you ask for land again, where do we find land? (If you) ask for state land — if we give and you sell and the whole process is repeated, we will end up in the river with the crocodiles,” he said as the audience erupted in laughter at the chief minister’s remarks.
Abang Johari gave this advice when officiating at the closing ceremony of the Land Code (Amendment) 2018 Forum for Southern Zone at a hotel here today.
He urged the native communities who have titles issued for their land to take good care and make good use of the land such as for modern agriculture development which will help sustain their livelihood or get extra income.
“Develop your land properly as there is smart farming using new technology now. You can plant durian, pineapple and coconut which are highly in demand in the global market.
“Last year, we exported 200 tonnes of durian paste to China. Singapore wants quality food and they have expressed interest to import our pineapple,” he told the landowners present.
Abang Johari highlighted the fact that today’s Bumiputera and native communities were rich in terms land ownership, but were poor in terms of income.
“This is our dilemma. Why is it that we have land but we are poor? According to an economic study, the wealth of a person includes the value of their assets. The Bumiputera are rich with land but poor because no income (from developing land).
“So those who have land should develop their land based on the needs and demands of the global market especially in terms of food production,” he added.
Reiterating calls for Sarawak to remain united, Abang Johari noted that there were jealous individuals trying to break and divide the people of Sarawak.
“Let’s stay united together and leave the rest in the hands of God because we know our intention is pure. We don’t want to break longhouses or villages apart but develop them.
“But there are jealous people who said we will go bankrupt in three years but little do they know that anak Sarawak are not dumb.
“There are those who say that the way I am spending will cause Sarawak to go bankrupt. But we know how to manage our funds and with GPS (Gabungan Parti Sarawak) government, we won’t go bankrupt and perhaps the revenue can be increased instead,” he said.
He thus urged the Village Development and Security Committees (JKKKs) to strengthen themselves with the RM100 million allocation which had been approved.
“We work together, stay strong and united; we can and will be the model city in Malaysia,: he added.
Deputy Chief Ministers Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas and Tan Sri Dr James Jemut Masing, Minister of Local Government and Housing Datuk Seri Dr Sim Kui Hian, Minister of Education, Science and Technological Research Datuk Seri Michael Manyin Jawong, Minister of Utilities Datuk Seri Dr Stephen Rundi and state secretary Datuk Amar Jaul Samion were among those present. — DayakDaily
