Be careful of opposition's 'Taju', says Uggah

SIBU: PBB senior vice president Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah reminded the people to be cautious and not be trapped by the bait or 'taju' dangled by the opposition because such acts can jeopardise their future.
From the old days, 'taju' remains a taboo for the Iban community, because they believe if they touched the 'taju remaong' or mystical tiger's bait, they would be doomed by bad luck and later die.
'Remaong' means a well-known legendary mystical tiger that is haunted and has supernatural powers, can fly and vanish in thin air unlike the common tiger.
The Ibans believe 'taju remaong' can be in any form, including a heap of durians and attract human beings but if anyone touched or consumed the ill-fated durians, they would be hunted down by the mystical tiger.
Uggah who was met by reporters after launching Small Holders Transformation programme organised by the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) in Rumah Juckine Saing, Nanga Jagoi in Kanowit, 63km from here, said some farmers in the Betong areas seemed to have become victims of the bait.
He said some farmers refused to allow their Native Customary Land to be surveyed under Section 6 of the Sarawak Land Code, claiming they were not given the reason or the need for such a survey.
However, Uggah said records from the Sarawak Land and Survey Department showed that they were briefed and understood the purpose of Section 6.
He said the farmers have been poisoned by certain irresponsible people, claiming their land would be seized by the government using Section 6 although such claims are not true.
"The Sarawak Land and Survey Department has no problems if they stay out of the gazette under Section 6 but if they are out of the survey, they land cannot be measured under Section 18.
"If there are development programmes carried out in the gazetted areas under Section 6, they would be left out and that will be a loss to them. They must therefore, think carefully before making a decision," he said.
Uggah who is the Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities and contesting in the state election for the first time, hopes to bring about rapid development to Bukit Saban, the seat he is contesting.
The PBB senior vice president who replaced incumbent Robert Lawson Chuat, who was a two-term Bukit Saban assemblyman, takes on PKR's Noel Changgai Bucking in a straight fight.
He said farmers whose land was surveyed and gazetted were enjoying success in their farming ventures while those who have stayed away are in a sorry state.
Uggah said his ministry through various agencies like Malaysia Rubber Board, Lada and MPOB had approved various forms of subsidy for the benefit of the rural people, including providing fertilizer for those under the B40 group (household income up to RM3,855), as a means of increasing their income.
"We hope they will work with the government at all times to improve their livelihood and income," he said.
Meanwhile, Uggah urged young PBB leaders to 'walk with senior leaders' to chart the future direction and development of Sarawak. — Bernama