Safeguard land, don’t simply sell to others, Bintulu folks told

BINTULU (Sept 16): Minister of Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom reminded the people of Bintulu to safeguard their land.

“Land is our most valuable asset, so protect it. If your land has not been surveyed, get it surveyed. Do not simply sell it to others, because once it is gone, you cannot get it back,” he said.

Dr Rundi, also Kemena assemblyman, cautioned that selling land recklessly often leaves families trapped in hardship.

“If you sell the land and use the money wisely, that is fine. But if it is wasted, you will have no means to buy it back – by then, regret will be useless,” he said when handing over Minor Rural Project (MRP) cheques yesterday.

He noted that Bintulu’s rapid growth had driven up living costs, housing, rentals and food prices, and urged locals to ensure they were not sidelined by development.

Meanwhile, Dr Rundi highlighted ongoing infrastructure upgrades in Bintulu, including the Binyo Bridge, Ulu Pandan Road Phase 1 and 2, and road links to Ulu Sigu, which are set to improve connectivity for surrounding communities.

On government allocations, he explained the Rural Transformation Project (RTP) provides RM5 million annually for projects, while MRP and Sarawak Poor Home Improvement project funds were disbursed based on actual needs, and subject to a strict auditing process.

“When projects are completed, documentation such as photos must be submitted before new allocations are released. This ensures accountability because government funds must be properly used,” he said.

He also called on the community to look towards smart farming and downstream commodity industries as pathways to future growth.

“Our strength lies in protecting what we have, especially our land, while embracing opportunities in high-value agriculture and food industries,” he added.