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By Nur Ashikin Louis
KUCHING, June 10: The Sarawak government must open up more areas through roads so that the natives can monetise their native customary right (NCR) lands, says Upper Rajang Development Agency (URDA) chairman Dato Sri Alexander Nanta Linggi.
He said building road infrastructure would be in line with the aspirations of Prime Minister Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg in calling for the local communities to monetise their land assets.
“When we think about building roads, it is no longer just about transporting people from point A to point B but it is about opening the areas so that it becomes a catalyst for socioeconomic activity.
“The rakyat (people) have their own native lands but because of inaccessibility, they cannot make use of it.
“The Premier has already said ‘you see, you have wealth in terms of land, you must monetise it’ (sic).
“We have to monetise our land but how can we monetise it if we do not have access. You may plant a lot of things but you cannot transport them out,” he said in an exclusive interview with DayakDaily on June 9.
Nanta who is also Malaysia Minister of Works and Kapit Member of Parliament (MP) further said that URDA will continue to be more proactive in developing socioeconomic aspect in its areas including putting a lot of emphasis on road infrastructure.
“Without roads, that (increase in socioeconomic activity) would be impossible.
“That is why it is very important to build more roads and plan for access roads because that would meet the aspirations of the prime minister and Sarawak government to monetise our land assets,” he added. — DayakDaily
