KUCHING, April 27: Tradewinds Plantation Bhd (Tradewinds) cries foul over an alleged land grab accusation that has caused an uproar and possibly an act of arson by certain quarters in the plantation company’s property at Sungai Tersak, Simunjan, on April 23.
Tradewinds, in a statement yesterday, stated that it believed the alleged arson was in retaliation for the company dismantling an illegal makeshift crossing to access an intended plantation road.
Tradewinds added that the illegal makeshift crossing was erected by unknown persons who alleged that the land on the estate belonged to them and not Tradewinds.
“This allegation of ownership has been dismissed by the Court of Appeal and has been found to have no merits.
“The unlawful act of erecting the said illegal makeshift crossing has caused losses to Tradewinds and is used to provide unlawful access for the purposes of theft of FFB (Fresh Fruit Bunches) and to compromise the state of security in the estate.
“Only authorised personnel of Tradewinds are allowed onto the estate,” Tradewinds warned.
The company also clarified that it is the “lawful owner of the estate and that there are no native customary rights (NCR) in the estate”.
Tradewinds further informed that there was a subsisting order against Senabung Sampai, who is the leader of a group of persons claiming to own NCR lands in the estate, and that order forbids himself and anyone else from claiming interest under him from trespassing onto the said lands and to illegally harvest FFB from Tradewinds oil palm trees.
“Tradewinds is committed to continuously improve the security and safety of the estate in its pursuit to ensure that its estate is properly managed.
“Tradewinds looks forward to enhancing its engagement with the police and the local community to ensure that its operation can be carried out safely and smoothly and, hereby, inform the claimants who allege NCR in the plaintiff’s land to seek clarification from Senabung Sampai, who had maintained the High Court legal action on their behalf and they are in law bound by the said Court Order.
“Tradewinds will not compromise on the security of its estate and safety of its employees and contractors and will not hesitate to report to the police to enforce the said order of Court,” the company affirmed. — DayakDaily
