100 Oil Palm Smallholders Protest

by Norni Mahadi, reporters@theborneopost.com. Posted on August 26, 2014, Tuesday

MIRI: About 100 oil palm smallholders from Tinjar and Bakong staged protests at the Land and Survey Department and at Malaysia Palm Oil Board (MPOB) branch office here yesterday.

Ling (middle) with the protesters.

Litus (second right) airs problems faced by smallholders in Tinjar and Bakong to MPOB staff. Ling is on third right.

They first carried banners to Wisma Pelita before going to the Land and Survey Department’s Miri office.

They claimed the department had denied them their Native Customary Rights (NCR) land when it permitted oil palm companies to open up large scale plantations.

The protestors then went to MPOB Miri office at Centrepoint Commercial Centre.

MPOB’s directive to agents of fresh fruit bunches (FFB) not to get their supply from smallholders, especially those with land dispute cases, had angered the protestors.

It was understood that allegations of smallholders stealing FFB from a company had prompted MPOB to issue the directive.

To show their frustration, the protesters brought along some unsold oil palm fruits and dumped them onto the staircase leading to MPOB’s office on the first floor and onto the front of the office’s counter.

Saying that they were prepared for dialogues, they demanded MPOB to resolve the issue by the end of this month.

Planter Litus Jau, from Logan Bunut, described MPOB’s directive as ‘unfair’.

He said he had a legitimate licence and, thus, could not understand why his oil palm fruits were rejected.

“It is really unfair, particular to those with licence. The decision by MPOB has cost me over RM10,000 in losses.”

He hoped MPOB would settle the issue quickly.

“We are fulltime oil palm planters, and our income depends on selling our FFB.”

Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2014/08/26/100-oil-palm-smallholders-protest/#ixzz3BURisJEJ

Kuching Old Bus Station

This is new face of old Kuching Bus Stop

Sematan, Lundu

Sematan (also known as Simatan) is a settlement in the Lundu division ofSarawak, Malaysia.^[1][2] It lies approximately 67.5 kilometres (42 mi) west-north-west of the state capitalKuching.

Sematan is a fishing village looking out over the South China Sea. It has reasonably clean beaches, a promenade along the waterfront and a concrete pier into the sea. At the north end there is a park celebrating early Malay fishermen in the Sematan area.^[3]Accommodation in Sematan can be had at the Sematan Hotel.^[4]

Lundu town now is difference than before

Lundu town now in difference than it was 15 years ago. I remember when I was staying at  army camp here, the town  was very small at that time. 

The latest Lundu waterfront.

Lundu, this coastal village town is becoming an increasingly popular tourist destination in Sarawak.

Lundu is  located in the south-western part of the Kuching Division and bordering West Kalimantan, Indonesia, offered attractive tourism products such as waterfalls, beaches and the national park. Lundu district and Sematan sub-district have natural attractions for tourist destinations.

When you visit Kuching, make your trip to Kuching a complete holiday trip with a day tour to explore the nature countryside in Lundu. There are unspoiled beaches in Lundu and Sematan  waiting to be discovered.

The journey to the small town of Lundu is only 60-minute drive from Kuching on decent roads.

There are low cost budget hotels in Lundu at RM30.

The journey pass through several pepper plantations.

There are also several stalls along the way selling native fruits such as the small local bananas, rambutan and durian. The local fruits are always fresh.

In between the highway is  a small river crossing. A new bridge was completed in 2008. The river itself is around 100 feet wide. Once you cross the bridge,  Lundu is in sight in minutes.

This small town is divided up into ethnic areas - a typical Malay village and a typical Iban village.

The town center is a few rows of shops, and on the weekend, they have a market selling vegetables, meats, and various other items.

Lundu is the gateway to some tropical attractions. The most popular destination is Gunung Gading National Park, home of the Rafflesia Flower, the world's largest flower. A full blooms of this flower reach diameters of one meter.

Gunung Gading Park has facilities to stay in and is well-maintained.

Hiking trails go up a small mountain and at the bottom of the trail is a natural-spring swimming pond cool and refreshing.

There are also two nice and deserted beaches - Pandan, and Siar beaches. Since most tourists don’t come this way and beaches aren’t that special to the locals, you can get some real privacy here.

There are a chalets for rent. They are simple structures and have good locations right on the beaches.

30 minutes little further away from Lundu is Sematan beach. Another deserted awesome little beach with  a nice little protected swimming area between two large rock formations. The beach is a nice, smooth coral sand and you can walk on the beach quite a ways before coming to any kind of house or settlement.

Old Ancient jar Tempayan