BETONG: Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas reassures that all Native Customary Rights (NCR) landowners will be consulted first before the Section 6 perimeter survey is done on their land.
“There must be a consensus from all involved. All must agree to allow the government to come in so that the survey can proceed smoothly.
“The government will not come in if not invited, and neither will it force its decision on the people,” he said when officiating at the Agriculture Department’s community outreach programme (AgriCOP) at Rh Nelson James, Nanga Buai in Layar on Sunday.
Uggah also stated that the state government did not want a situation where people who disagreed would express their dissatisfaction and frustration in the social media pointing out that the people could always consult their elected representatives if they needed advice on the matter.
He stressed that perimeter survey under Section 6 was a necessary phase before survey under Section 18 where the individual land titles would be issued.
On AgriCop, Uggah, who is also Minister of Agriculture Modernisation, Native Land and Regional Development, said that it was to publicise the department’s various agricultural programmes available for the people, and to inform them on modern agriculture development and options.
It was also to help farmers generate more income.
“Farmers need to diversify their activities, and it is unwise to rely on oil palm or pepper or rubber alone as when the price drops, they will be adversely affected,” he said.
At the event, Uggah announced a grant of RM200,000 to purchase fertigation farming tools for the 22-door longhouse. He also approved RM10,000 for the Village Security and Development Committee (JKKK) fund, along with fund for a concrete bridge costing about RM400,000.
Layar assemblyman Gerald Rentap Jabu, in his speech, suggested the formation of a community museum in Betong.
“This is to house the many traditional cultural items of the local Iban community, and also the crafts of the womenfolk as they have excellent traditional weaving skills learnt from the old days.
“Those old pieces in their collection can be exhibited in the museum, so that the new generation can appreciate them and for them to be inspired to learn to reproduce them and keep the tradition alive,” he said.
