Report of the National Inquiry into the Land Rights of Indigenous Peoples 91 Agropolitan and MESEJ projects for hardcore poor 6.57 Many of the indigenous land development schemes are related to poverty reduction through the introduction of plantations and infrastructure. The Ministry of Rural Development (MRD) together with District Offices in the State has been tasked with the identification of hardcore poor communities, while the Sabah Economic Development and Investment Authority (SEDIA)255 channels funds it receives from the Federal Government under the Sabah Development Corridor (SDC). Poverty eradication programmes focusing on indigenous land development projects include the Agropolitan and Mini Estet Sejaterah (MESEJ) projects. 6.58 Communities affected by these projects describe them as top-down programmes with no consultations or consent-making mechanisms for the project. The Inquiry noted and commented on the lack of verifiable and adequate information to the affected communities on an ongoing basis, as well as a transparent process to select the hardcore poor. Taking land from other members of the community and giving it to landless hardcore poor could lead to intra-community conflicts. The Inquiry fails to see how such projects could ensure social and sustainable development, which is among the main objectives of the project and of SEDIA.256 6.59 In case no KM24, Mr Marajim@Ejim b Mangkong (W34) representing two villages in Indarason Darat and Minikodong in Kudat said 733.4 acres of land for their livelihood had been taken for the MESEJ project by MRD in early 2006 without any LE or proper consultations. When the contractor started work, their crops and graveyards were destroyed and each time the road to the project was upgraded, their water pipes were disconnected and destroyed. No compensation was paid for these acts of destruction. 6.60 Ahmad Shah bin Kalon, West Coast District Surveyor in responding to the W34 said “...MRD applied for 500 acres of land in Kg Minikodong and followed the normal process whereby the land application was brought to the LUC and was supported. Subsequently, a survey order was made to the district surveyor dated 3 August 2009, a file opened in 2005 SP0558220 and the survey completed. On 28 November 2006, the survey plan 05125665 was approved with an area of 526.3 acres. For the next process, we submitted to the Natural Resource Office and MESEJ Minikodong was gazetted under gazette number 356/2008 ....It was gazetted under Section 28 of Sabah Land Ordinance for “public purpose” that is Mini Estet Sejatera (MESEJ) project” 6.61 In a similar case (TW26), Mr Sappari Saidal (W67) from Kg Bakong-Bakong, Semporna, expressed dissatisfaction in the slow process of obtaining approval for his community’s land application, which he submitted in 1994, but which resulted in their NCR land being gazetted under section 28 of the SLO in favour of MRD for conversion into a MESEJ project. According to the Tawau district surveyor, Mr Abdul Manap b Aneh (W75), the LSD was aware that Kg Bakong-Bakong was occupied but the LSD Director himself gave the go-ahead to MRD to enter the area. 6.62 In case no KM78, in responding to Ms Salmah bt Marail (W37) from Kg Timbang Dayang, Banggi in Kudat, the Director General of FELCRA, Tuan Haji Samian Hj Mohd Ali (W38) said that discussions regarding the Agropolitan project in Banggi Island were held with village 255 SEDIA was established in 2009 for the purpose of promoting the Sabah Economic Development Corridor (SDC) and governed by the SEDIA Enactment. 256 Section 6(b) of the SEDIA Enactment, 2009 chapter 6_a4.indd 91 7/5/13 6:47 PM