With expanded infrastructure and the creation of new centres for the generation and interaction of new economic forces in the Upper and Lower Saribas basins, Betong Division can look forward to a prospective future. But a definitive change of mindset must precede all these, writes TOMAN MAMORA following an exclusive interview with Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Datuk Amar Alfred Jabu.
IT’S
as if history has come full circle. For a moment, one can’t help but sense
that the spirit and energies of a legenday past have been invoked and juxtaposed
with a rejuvenated Betong which celebrates its elevation as the 11th
Administrative Division today. Betong Division or generally referred to as the
Saribas basin, was the seat of the early Iban civilisation and heartland of the
early sea-faring Malay adventurers and has produced many ‘firsts’ in
politics, business, education and culture.
The
energies and legends of old are likely to resurrect to find new meaning and
expression in the new economy, as Betong and the rest of the Saribas basin break
loose from the rural trappings and forge ahead with a sense of great promise to
an era of greater development and progress.
“The
creation of the new division will provide definitive focus on administration and
enable the Government to concentrate on development and transformation of the
people in the rural areas,” says Betong-born Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri
Datuk Amar Alfred Jabu.
However,
he is quick to point out: “Compared to urban areas, most parts of the Betong
division have not enjoyed as much development but given time and with the
planning of major socioeconomic projects, the new division will shed its rural
image and assume a rightful place in the mainstream of modernisation.”
The
creation of an administrative division for Betong is justified in view of its
sufficiently large population base and its representation in Parliament by two
Members of Parliament - basic prerequisites which had earlier defined the
creation of the Mukah Division.
Stresses
Jabu: “I have never lobbied for Betong to be a division. Rather, it is a
manifestation of the Government’s recognition of the commitment of the people
of Betong to continued development, peace and harmony. They have been supportive
of the government and its development policies in the past 28 years.”
Betong
Division is made up of two existing districts, namely, Betong and Saratok, and
parts of Meludam, Skrang – giving a total area of 4,000 sq km with a
population of more than 100,000 people. Saratok district spreads over 1,687 sq
km and has a population of 37,939 while Betong district has 69,114 people with a
territorial jurisdiction of 1,776 sq km. Plans are also in the offing for the
upgrading of the existing sub-districts of Kabong and Pusa to districts.
Betong
Division has a culturally mixed population, with Ibans, Malays and Chinese
interacting well in almost all spheres of activity since the pre-colonial days.
Jabu describes such a well-knit and harmonious social fabric as a priceless
asset that is certain to propel Betong Division to break new frontiers of
development and harness its vast rural potential.
As
in any rural areas, Betong has its share of challenges. While the Ibans, who
dwell in the upper Saribas basin, are looking forward to their NCR land to
unlock the proverbial gate to their future economic livelihood, the Malays in
Lower Saribas are optimistic of the creation of linkages early so that they can
harness their arable land and harvest the sea. “The coastal belt of the Lower
Saribas basin has yet to enjoy the benefit of the coastal road which will only
be completed in 3 to 4 years. The coastal road, currently under construction,
will eventually link Meludam, Teriso, Beladin, Pusa, Kabong, Gerigat and
Selalang with extended link to the main trunk road in the interior,” says Jabu,
stressing that the completion of the coastal road will provide impetus for the
creation of new economic forces and linkages for their interaction and
convergence.
Jabu,
who is also Minister of land and Rural Development, reiterates that germane to
the development of Betong Division, like Mukah division, is the provision of an
extensive network of infrastructure and utilities. “Otherwise, the newly
created Administrative Division may face the serious problem of a widening
development and information gap,” he emphasises. Physical development alone is
not enough to change the socioeconomic landscape and bring about transformation
in the rural areas, the people must change their mindset and be prepared to
catch up with the rapid development in education so that they will be able to
make good of the vast opportunities under the Third National Outline Perspective
Plan, he adds.
Construction
work will soon start on the installation of an extensive system of main pipes
supplying treated water from Ulu layar to end-users in the coastal area which is
known to have suffered perennial shortage of water during the drought season.
Jabu is optimistic, barring unforeseen circumstances, that the water supply
network will be completed within the next five years.
Infrastructure
development and the provision of utilities will augur well for the rapid growth
of Rural Growth Centres (RGCs) at Beladin and Ulu Layar, which will serve as
catalysts in activating the growth of smaller towns such as Debak, Gerigat,
Nanga Budu, Kabong and other
outlying areas within the division.
Jabu
speaks of the prospective future of the coastal belt of Betong Division,
following successful research and introduction of the latest technology in peat
soil development. “In the coastal belt, vast areas of reasonably shallow peat
soil can be drained and used for commercial agriculture capable of giving crop
yield much higher than in the interior,” he remarks with optimism.
In the interior, the problem of accessibility, which hitherto has
affected development of the NCR land, has been duly overcome with the
construction of roads linking towns with longhouses and sub-centres. Says Jabu
of the changes that infrastructure has brought to the longhouse folk:
“Compared to 25 years ago, a lot of changes, which were previously undreamed,
have taken place in the rural areas and the longhouse folk no longer have to
spend half a day or a full day to get to the nearest towns like Saratok or
Betong to conduct their rountine business activities as they now enjoy good
roads and other good communication facilities.
“
In Saratok and Betong districts, I dare say no area is out of reach within 7 to
8 hours, and we hope to reduce the travel time to no more than 3 hours soon. We
will realise this by 2005,” Jabu points out.
But
central to the long-term development of what is predominantly a rural division
is expansion of education and the development of a well-trained and
knowledgeable workforce. Jabu acknowledges this and is proud that so far the
results of SPM examination for most secondary schools in the Betong Division
have been satisfactory in the past 5 years and show signs of continued
improvement.
Betong
students potential rural force
“
The results of SPM of secondary schools in the Betong Division in the last five
years revealed a passing rate that was higher than the national average. In
2001, the SMP passes of secondary schools in the Division were 70.2 per cent,
well above the State average of 68.4 per cent and national average of 69.6 per
cent,” he says emphatically, adding that although these schools are in the
rural areas, the students have proven that they have the brain power. To Jabu,
they represent a potential force from the rural areas in the next 5 to 10 years
and is convinced that there is enough motivation and drive in the rural area to
push the students to do well academically.
The
picture looks promising for the rural students in the Division with the
soon-to-be completed MARA Junior Science College and establishment of two
community colleges at Debak and Saratok under the Eighth Malaysia Plan.
“The
Government will continue to expand educational opportunities in the Division
through the schools development programmes and thesetting up of skill
development centres. Under the Eighth Malaysia Plan, new primary and secondary
schools are to be built and several existing schools to be upgraded,” Jabu
says of the plan to enhance education in the Division.
With
its large tracts of arable land and fast expanding infrastructure network,
Betong is poised for further development in plantation industry and rural-based
small and medium scall industries, and opportunities are abundant for private
sector investors to set up joint ventures. Stresses Jabu: “ There are great
prospects in modern plantation agriculture, fisheries, and SMIs. In particular,
there is much scope for plantation development as there are large holdings of
land banks under the native Customary Rights (NCR) land development concept.”
He
adds: “I look forward to the influx of increased investment into the Betong
Division, with capital and other resources being brought in to develop oil palm
plantations in both the upper and lower Saribas basins as well as to set up
private institutions of higher learning.”
“I
foresee there will be a lot of interest in terms of investment in Betong in much
the same manner in Samarahan and Mukah.. For a place to grow, there must be an
injection of capital which does not necessarily come from the Government alone.
The Government is the provider of development catalysts in the form of
infrastructure, schools, utilities, clinics, and RGCs. But the engine of growth
is very much the private sector,” Jabu says of the role of the private sector
in the development of Betong.
To
date SALCRA has developed a total of 4,300 hectares of oil palm plantations in
the Division, primarily in Saratok, part of Betong and Upper Saribas, and plans
are in the offing under the 8MP to consolidate 6,000 hectares of scattered
plantations into one contiguous block which will make management ore
cost-efficient and effective.
To
date, the Saratok-Roban belt produces about 24,000 tons of fresh fruit bunch per
hectare per year whereas the commercial average is around 15,000 tons per
hectare. This high production is attributed to the well-drained shallow peat
soil in the area, says Jabu who is confident the tonnage will continue to
increase with expanded acreage.
FELCRA
is also currently involved in developing NCR land for commercial agriculture in
Spaoh-Debak area, and with research on local peat soil being carried out in
Sessang, optimism is high on higher yield of oil palm yield from the Saribas
basin.
Soon,
settlers in the now defunct rubber schemes in Skrang and Melugu will get a new
lease of life following the Government’s decision to plant the areas with oil
palm.
Being
centrally positioned, Betong presents itself as an ideal choice for the
administrative capital for the Division. But development of Betong will
ultimately depend on the development of the satellite towns and the vast
hinterland, quips Jabu. Hence, it
is important that Betong is properly linked to all these places to enhance
mobility of people, goods and services and facilitate interaction of the local
economic forces.
About
300-500 government officers of all levels and categories will soon be posted to
Betong, and this marked increase in number from the present size of 100 officers
will necessitate the setting up of a new administrative complex and government
quarters.
A
new administrative complex, comprising the Residency and administrative offices
will be built on a hill and ridges overlooking the town of Betong and are
expected to be ready in 24 months’ time. In addition, 200 units of government
quarters to cater to the housing needs of State and Federal officers will be
constructed at the foothill adjacent to the administrative complex and will be
ready during the same period.
“
The new Residency is being planned on a hill surrounded by three ridges
overlooking the town of Betong. Three blocks of offices will be built on the
ridges. The site of the new Government complex is both strategic and symbolic,
with the propeller-like shape of the hill and ridges denoting that Betong is
being propelled to new heights of development and progress,” says Jabu who
alludes comfortably to the geomancy of the site.
To
many, the development of Betong and the greater part of the Saribas basin is
synonymous with Jabu’s stewardship. The suggestion, albeit hyperbolic to some
well-meaning critics, is understandable and deserves some stock-taking.
Most
of the major development projects implemented in Betong over the last two
decades and which have transformed it into a productive and economically
progressive area were initiated by Jabu.
With
a population in excess of 30,000, Betong is rapidly transforming into a major
rural development centre – well planned and developed. It has all the basic
amenities including modern communications network, roads, hospitals, electricity
and treated water supplies, schools, modern government administrative offices,
police station and fire station, sporting facilities, as well as a handicraft
centre. The success of Betong has been made possible with the active
participation of the people in the government’s mainstream programmes on
sustainable land development and utilisation.