By Philip Kiew
reportersthebomeopostcom

LIMBANG: The access road to the proposed Limbang Dam will open up more land for the planting of commercial crops to benefit the local people.

Second Minister of Resource Planning and Environment and Minister of Public Utilities Datuk Amar Awang Tengah All Hasan said this in Medamit during the presentation of RM4.27 million compensation cheques to 231 landowners whose land are acquired for the building of the access road project and Jalan Bawang UborJ alan Ulu Tubai.

A cheque for RM2.268 million was given to 121 landowners whose land were taken for the building of the 14.5km Jalan Bawang Obor-Ulu Tubai and RM1.08 million for 110 landowners affected by the access road project. On the proposed Limbang HEP project, Awang Tengah said it would be built in two phases subject to demand and recommendation based on EIA report, socio-economic development and other issues involving resettlements.

Four longhouses would be affected by the proposed project, he said.

“We are not sure of the dam project implementation yet as it hinges on demand, but the access road would definitely be built to improve communication and spur economic activities in the area,” he said.

Awang Tengah said that the Limbang River basjn had long been ear-marked for large scale padi and oil palm plantations to uplift the people’s economic well being. He said the NCR initiative of perimeter survey exercise was the first step of providing land ownership which would be followed by individual land survey.

“This new NCR initiative is about providing NCR land ownership security, starting with the perimeter survey,” he said.

He said that in the run-up to election, the opposition would exploit the NCR land issue and accuse the state government of grabbing lands from the people through the perimeter survey.

He thus urged the people here to give their full support to BN and the incumbent Limbang MP Hasbi Habibolah in the coming general elections.

Also present at the function were Batu Danau assemblyman Paulus Palu Gumbang, Bukit Kota assemblyman Dr Abdul Rahman Ismail and Limbang district officer Anyi Lah.

(Source:   The Borneo Post, 7 March 2013)