Priority to those wanting land to grow paddy: CM

DAILY EXPRESS
08 May, 2008

Kota Kinabalu: Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Haji Aman assured that the State Government will give priority to land applications for paddy cultivation to ensure adequate supply of rice in Sabah. He said the Government would also give its support, including assistance and incentives, to paddy farmers. "It is the State Government's hope that the existing paddy planting areas be maintained and that new areas be developed for paddy cultivation," he said in his winding up speech for the Chief Minister's Department at the State Legislative Assembly.

The speech was read by Minister in the Chief Minister's Department Datuk Haji Nasir Tun Sakaran. Musa said the Government was aware of the global rice shortage and that the price of the commodity had increased in other countries. Musa said it was a very serious matter because it has huge impact on the people and nation. Hence the reason for the State and Federal governments' efforts to increase output.

On thefts of metal struts that had caused high tension pylons in Menggatal to collapse recently, he said Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd (SESB) was still trying to locate the stolen steel struts. SESB was also in the process of identifying areas where there is high risk of the metal struts being stolen. "SESB would be also be conducting safety awareness campaigns in selected areas as well as form tower foster programme in villages near the towers," he said.

On suggestion that more government officers from Sabah be promoted as heads of Federal departments in the State, Musa said the Federal Government is making efforts towards this effect. However, he said not many Sabah officers were qualified to be appointed to the positions as the appointment was based on several factors that include, among others, merit or capability of the officer to shoulder the responsibility.Currently, he said that there are 25 Sabahans who are heading Federal departments out of the 76 departments in Sabah.

He said that the State Government through the Land and Survey Department had taken steps overcome the issues of land measurement, slow issuance of land title and overlapping land application by villagers in Tandek. According to him, based on records from the Land and Survey Department, the outstanding land of Native Title status that have not been measured is 16,027 lots.

He said that there were only 88 teams of surveyor at the moment and that they could only carry out land measurement work on 3,000 lots annually. "The average application for land measurement is 5,000 lots annually. Hence, the outstanding lots that could not be measured would increase every year," he said.

Nevertheless, Musa said the Government is in the process of privatising the land measurement works. At the same time,they would be introducing modern surveying tools and block land processing system. Musa hoped through the new approach, measurement of the lands would be improved.