GAWAI GIFT: Masing (fifth left) presents the cheque replica to Lawrence (sixth right) and Barnabas (fourth right) while Aaron (third left), Gramong (sixth left), Alexander (second left) and others look on.

KANOWIT: Owners of Native Customary Rights (NCR) land participating in Boustead Pelita Kanowit Plantation Sdn Bhd were paid a dividend totalling RM5.6 million yesterday.

Land Development Minister Tan Sri Dr James Masing presented the mock cheque to the landowners, which was received on behalf of the landowners by the chairman of the area development committee, Lawrence Melaka (Block D) and Penghulu Barnabas Angkis (Block B).

Masing said the dividends this year had benefited all who were involved in the NCR land development project.

“This is the fifth time the plantation is giving out dividends to NCR land owners since 2008,” he said.

According to him, the dividend was given early to enable Iban folks to prepare for Gawai Dayak.

Also present at the function were Assistant Minister of Rural Development Datuk Gramong Juna, Kanowit MP Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang, Ngemah assemblyman Alexander Vincent, permanent secretary to Land Development Ministry Datu Jaul Samion, Pelita deputy general manager Hasbi Suhaili and senior general manager of Boustead Agency, Shoib Abdullah.