Extracted from Malaysiakini

NCR landowners held for ’stealing’ oil palm fruits
Tony Thien
Feb 20, 06 5:25pm

The police have arrested eight native customary rights (NCR) landowners, including four tuai rumah (longhouse chiefs) for allegedly stealing oil palm fruits from a Sarawak Land Development Board (SLDB) plantation in Mukah, near Sibu.

A team from the Mukah central police station arrested the group Friday evening, according to Sarawak Dayak Iban Association (Sadia) secretary-general Nicholas Mujah today.

The tuai rumah were identified as Labon Edieh, 70, of Sungai Bawan, Tangkun Mandau, 62, of Sungai Duan, Nyaun Ganai, 66, of Sungai Duan, Muda Lujang, 48, of Sungai Duan, Insa Sigah, (age not given) of Sungai Sikat Mukah, Megan Angon (age not given) of Rumah Atang, Sungai Duan, lorry driver Aki Jambi and lorry attendant Lindang Entalang.

SLDB, a state government agency, started developing the NCR land in 1975 for a period of 25 years as agreed with the landowners. The agreement expired five years ago.

Higher returns

“However, the plantation company ignored the agreement and continued to occupy the land,” according to Tuai Rumah Labon.

He said the company had offered to pay the landowners off but they refused.

“We did not want (the money) as we want our land back and to develop it on our own as we have educated our children now to look after the land,” he added.

He said the economic returns would be much higher if they developed the land themselves.

Ambun, the affected villages’ action committee chairperson, said the company’s representatives had two meetings with them to try and negotiate a deal with the landowners.

“The first was held at the Resident’s Office in Mukah on Nov 18 last year which was also attended by the landowners’ lawyer Baru Bian. Also present were representatives from SLDB and Mukah divisional police chief Sapari Jamahari,” he added.

No results

The second meeting was held in Sibu on Jan 24 this year, which was also attended by Sapari, but did not produce any results.

Ambun said landowners were annoyed with the company for alleging that the natives had already sold their NCR land.

The villagers have also set up road blocks at all entrances into the land since last November and there was no interferences from the police until the eight decided to collect the fruits.

The court granted a further remand of the eight until Feb 18.