Mara training for these SLDB settlers
Published on: Friday, February 24, 2017
Kota Kinabalu: The Sabah Land Development Board (SLDB) marked the new year with the launching of a Corporate Social Responsibility-related (CSR) programme aimed at empowering the second generation of SLDB settlers or zuriat peneroka.The first batch of 60 zuriat peneroka in the East Coast region were enlisted for a one-year GiatMara training in entrepreneurship.It was launched by SLDB Chairman, Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Abdul Rahim Ismail, during a GiatMara roadshow in Tawau, recently.
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The young participants, who were selected from eight settlers schemes in the East Coast region, will undergo a 12-month training in their chosen fields of entrepreneurship within the purview of GiatMata.GiatMara is a training centre which offers technical courses throughout the country in various fields of skilled subjects, including automotive technology, industrial maintenance, fashion and dressmaking, graphic design and advertising. In his speech, Abdul Rahim said the GiatMara foray is a platform to enable the participants to equip themselves with the knowhow in entrepreneurship."SLDB, under the new management team, will ensure that none of the zuriat peneroka are left behind from the nation's mainstream socio-economic development.
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"The Federal and State are working together closely to empower the (SLDB) settlers through holistic approach, and this include the second generation," he said.Abdul Rahim, who is also Pantai Manis Assemblyman, said various programmes have been or are being currently implemented in Sabah by SLDB with the collaboration of various Federal and State agencies through the National Blue Ocean Strategies (NBOS).
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The GiatMara training is a follow-up to the SLDB's second generation empowerment programme that comes under the Aktiviti Ekonomi Tambahan or additional economic activities (AET).AET's main objectives were to create additional source of income for the settlers, especially the second generation, in line with RMKe-11 target of uplifting the living standard of the rural folks.Under the AET programme, SLDB acts as a consultancy and monitoring agent, while the beneficiaries (settlers) as project implementers.SLDB has also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with UiTM, whereby the later would provide trainings in human resource development capacity for SLDB settlers and participants, especially the second generation. AET's core activities include livestock rearing, agricultural activities and rural economy where participants are required to attend training sessions being facilitated by various federal and state agencies. AET programmes are funded by the Federal Government through the Ministry of Rural and Regional Development with an allocation of RM10 million for a five year period.The SLDB chairman also toured the agency's regional offices in the West Coast and East Coast region in early February to meet the staffs. He was accompanied by SLDB General Manager and SMSB Managing Director, Haji Jazuli W. Sunarto and senior SLDB officers.In his speech, Abdul Rahim urged SLDB staff to work together as a team in order to improve the agency's performance and productivity, as well as to fulfill their responsibilities to the stakeholder, especially the settlers and participants.He also suggested that they practised the paperless concept in carrying out their daily tasks, as this will help the agency in term of prudent spending.Abdul Rahim said the State Cabinet has approved the inception of SLDB Management Sdn Bhd (SMSB) which will function as the agency's Special Purpose Entity (SPE).He said SPE's main objectives were to broaden SLDB's function, as well as to empower the agency in line with the responsibilities entrusted to the agency as an important implementing agent for rural land development in Sabah.He said the total amount of dividends paid to its settlers and participants from 2014 to 2016 was RM41.5 million. Currently, SLDB has close to seven thousand settlers and participants state wide. For 2016 alone, SLDB has disbursed a total amount of RM6.13 for the bantuan sara diri or self-support assistance to its settlers in the East Coast region.The government-backed poverty reduction schemes implemented by SLDB include the Mini Estet Sejahtera (Mesej), Projek Pekebun Kecil Terancang (PPKT), Communal Grant and Projek Pekebun Kecil Berkelompok (PPKB).Also last year, Chief Minister, Datuk Seri Panglima Musa Haji Aman, launched the federal-funded Settlers Palm Oil Replanting Programme (SPORP) which benefitted almost 1,000 settlers and participants in the East Coast region.Under the SPORP concept, settlers involved are eligible to receive monthly self-support assistance allowance or elaun sara hidup of RM800 until their palm oil matured in about three years. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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