By Karen Bong
KUCHING, Nov 15: Lingga assemblywoman Dayang Noorazah Awang Sohor has called on the Sarawak government to investigate and help resolve the issues faced by participants of the Felcra Berhad Batang Lupar Oil Palm plantation in Kampung Lingga, who are considering selling the 470-hectare plantation due to more than 10 years of ongoing income loss.
Dayang Noorazah highlighted that the plantation has suffered financial losses nearly every year since its establishment in 2008.
According to the earnings report for Felcra Berhad Batang Lupar Oil Palm Plantation, she revealed that from 2013 to April 2022, 122 participants and heirs have only received profit dividends three times—namely in 2016, 2019, and 2022.
“The persistent losses have led to widespread dissatisfaction among the participants and heirs, with 95 of them now intending to sell the 470-hectare plantation to Felcra or private buyers to settle the operational debts of the plantation,” she stated during the Sarawak Budget 2025 debate in the august House today.
She clarified that, according to the 2010 agreement between Felcra Berhad and the participants, Clause 18 stipulates that after the participants have paid all required fees, the land management will be returned to them, subject to mutual agreement.
“However, the land cannot be handed over or claimed by the participants if the operational debt remains unpaid.
“Therefore, I urge the Sarawak government to look into this matter and provide assistance so that the future of the people in the Lingga constituency is not overlooked. This plantation is their livelihood, supporting their daily needs and sustaining generations to come,” she added. — DayakDaily
