1. YB Datuk Raymond Tan Shu Kiah, Kementerian Pembangunan Infrastruktur, Sabah
2. YB Datuk Seri Panglima Hj. Yahya Hussin, Kementerian Pertanian dan Industri Makanan, Sabah
3. YB Datuk Dr Chua Soon Bui, MP of Tawau
Despite paying 7.5% from the sell of FFB (Fresh Fruit Bunch) as tax to Sabah State Government, estimating RM2 millions a year, oil palm planters in Ulu Kalumpang Smallholders Scheme B are facing tremendous challenge to transport their crops on their 4-wheeldrive to the nearest Bukit Tajam Weighing Bridge operated by TSH Resources Bhd due the irreparable wet patches and potholes along the slippery laterite road and river crossing. It turns bad to worst during raining season as the traffic can be blocked by a fully loaded 20-ton dumptruck stuck in potholes or totally cut off when the river water rises above 5-feet. Where the sales tax we paid has gone to???
In SAPP website, Datuk Dr Chua has said in her appeal for votes during the 12th General Election, "I am determined to continue my party's (SAPP) struggle to build a better future for the Tawau community especially our future generation".
In the same website, SAPP's slogan "United we build, together we progress", seems determined and justified for everyone. Being the minister for infrastructur development, we hope Datuk Raymond Tan could listens to the planters' cries to improve the laterite road and build a bridge in Ulu Kalumpang. This area should be included under the billions ringgit Sabah Development Corridor project.
Sabah produced 6 million tonnes of CPO in 2007, with average CPO price of RM2,530.50, Sabah State Government had collected a total sales tax of RM1.1 billion (excluding sales tax of other palm oil products). we hope YB Datuk Seri Panglima Hj. Yahya Hussin could seek some fund allocation from the government to improve the agriculture activities in Ulu Kalumpang.
Despite our many complaints to the state government and MP of P190 (Tawau), all our efforts last year had fallen to deaf ears. We hope the newly formed government after the 12th GE could deliver their promises to help improving basic infrastructure in Ulu Kalumpang which eventually will increase agriculture productivity and welfare for the suffering planters.
From,
Smallholder Planters in Ulu Kalumpang
