By Wendy John
SIBU, Dec 29: Sekuau JKKK, and Sekuau Longhouse Chief Association are in the process of taking legal action against FELCRA for not paying dividends to 404 landowners in the Sekuau Resettlement Scheme whose land are involved in oil palm plantation over the last two years.
The 404 landowners are from 30 longhouses comprising 517 doors or ‘pintu’ in the area.
Sekuau Village Security and Development Committee (JKKK) chairman Councilor Henry Kanyan Vincent Rawing revealed today that they have held talks with their legal team to initiate court action in response to the alleged failure of the FELCRA developer to pay dividends and failure to carry out corporate social responsibility (CSR) programmes for the residents as promised.
He had also discussed the matter with the Sibu Resident’s Office and Selangau District Office for action, he told reporters today.
He said Tamin assemblyman Christopher Gira Sambang had also been briefed on the matter and he had personally attended a meeting with FELCRA to discuss the non-payment of the dividend.
“However, to date there have been no postitf response from FELCRA. Our people’s representatives (Gira) have also repeatedly raised the matter with the relevant ministers but there is still no satisfactory answer.
“As a result of this lackadaisical attitude, we have conducted a survey and asked all the people in Sekuau whether they are still in favour of FELCRA as their developer or to choose other government agency what might bring better benefits for their venture,” he said.
Henry claimed FELCRA does not care for the welfare of the residents and they do not
provide CSR for the residents with regards to assistance or initiatives.
He added that in Sekuau in the eyes of the public, FELCRA had failed as it did not put in effort to do good.
“I have also noticed that the oil palm estate is not well managed by FELCRA and many of the oil palm trees have not being harvested.
“How is FELCRA going to reap profit if oil palm fresh fruit bunch is not taken care of. It is our right as the participants in the scheme to ensure that the developer can benefit from it so as to be able to provide good dividends for us,” he added.
There are more than 5,000 people in Sekuau including those from Batang Oya. — DayakDaily
