Lidam aims to help Katibas constituents unlock NCR land potential

SONG: In a bid to unlock the full potential of their native customary rights (NCR) land, 65 dwellers from three longhouses in the upper reaches of the Katibas River here held an 'aum' (meeting) in the Song bazaar more than year ago to discuss ways to go about it.

The meeting among the dwellers of Rumah Sapai Ajom in Nanga Ngeranau, Rumah Api Sanun in Nanga Terusa and Rumah Cyril Usau Unjong in Nanga Bulo, Ulu Katibas resulted in the formation of the Ulu Katibas Area Development Committee (JPUK) that is headed by Malang Biat.

It was agreed during the meeting that the first step to developing economic activities for 395 residents from the longhouses was to conduct a perimeter survey of their NCR land under Section 6 of Sarawak Land Code (Amendment) 2018.

Then, after the completion of the individual survey under Section 18 of the same Code, the dwellers envision venturing into commercial farming with assistance from the government or via joint venture with private developers.

During the meeting, they also suggested venturing into activities like the 'tagang' system (controlled fishing, a method to conserve riverine fish) aquaculture for empurau, semah and tengadak fish; pig and deer farming; as well as cultivation of dabai, musang king durian and vegetables.

Other activities proposed were the setting up of homestays, rearing stingless bees for honey and establishing a JPUK cooperative.

"These are the things that we want to do to uplift our socio-economy. Our young ones do not have to go far to work when they can gain economic benefits from the land," Malang told Bernama.

And these development can only happen if there is accessibility to their longhouses so that they can market their produce because, at the moment, their only mode of transportation is by longboat up and down the Katibas River which can sometimes prove to be difficult, especially during the dry season, and which is also proving to be more and more uneconomic these days.

It looks like someone - Lidam Assan, 56, who hails from Nanga Tengadak - understands their dreams and visions.

The Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) candidate for the Katibas seat plans to rejuvenate and transform the constituency, which is known for its much sought-after empurau fish, dabai and durian.

"I will bring the community to achieve 'two zeroes' - zero poverty and zero illiteracy. Simply put, we must be an affluent community and our children must be able to read and write.

"I'll be focusing on what we can do about that with our community by exploiting our natural resources, especially agriculture," said Lidam, who has two daughters.

Lidam, who holds a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration (Hon) from UiTM (Universiti Teknologi Mara) and Master's degree in Business Administration from Heriot-Watt University, Scotland, has vast experience in the corporate world, having spent 26 years working with Petronas before retiring in 2016.

The Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu Sarawak (PBB) supreme council member wants to woo the hometown youths to return and unlock the value of their land by making agriculture a business that could uplift the socio economy of their families and, subsequently, help in the development of the Katibas constituency.

"We must sweat and work the land. Song is blessed with natural resources, such as rivers, fertile soil, flora and fauna, famous indigenous fish species like the empurau fish, and fruits like durian and dabai.

"We will continue to preserve our natural resources. We have a pilot hatchery centre for indigenous fish at SMK Katibas, which is a joint venture project with the school and supervised by the Song Graduates Club (SGC)," he added.

Lidam stressed that the people must move from traditional to commercial farming methods, learn about book-keeping and continue with the traditional crops under the Agriculture Department, with focus given to sustainable commodity crops like oil palm, liberica coffee, cocoa and fish farming.

As education was a luxury for him back then, he has made it his mission to ensure that children will have easy access to it.

"My mother made sure I attended school as she probably realised that nothing was more important than seeing her son getting an education despite all the odds she faced," he said, adding that that was the reason he formed SGC - to help him improve in terms of organising and managing local talents.

On infrastructure development, Lidam said the success of providing basic amenities such as roads, electricity, water supply, healthcare and housing would be the foundation to achieving socio-economy uplift.

"Song consists of rural-based communities spread over many places along the river and, therefore, road connectivity is the determining factor in marketing our local produce and, subsequently, support better quality of life," he said.

Getting the NCR land surveyed and titled, he said would empower the people to unlock their land value and provide impetus to commercial development in the agriculture and plantation sectors.

Taking over the seat from incumbent Datuk Ambrose Blikau Enturan, Lidam is involved in a six-cornered tussle with Sai Malaka of Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak Baru (PBDSB), Yunus Basri of Parti Bumi Kenyalang (PBK), Munan Laja of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), Robertson Mawa Luat of Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) and independent candidate Tengku Gruna in the Dec 18 polls.

-- BERNAMA