The Sabah Rubber Industry Board (SRIB) 103 was formed by the Malaysian Government in order to develop an integrated rubber industry through efficient management of smallholder sector, increase commercial production and diversification of downstream industry for competitive global market. 104 One of the core objectives of the SRIB is assist in the government’s aim of alleviating poverty by way of creating steady and sustainable source of income amongst farmers. 105 Towards the above aim, the SRIB has put in place several strategies to reduce poverty and to ensure the development of the local communities in Sabah. These strategies include: • To establish sustainable source of income for the poor / hardcore poor; • To develop programmes to increase the income of target groups; • To provide and improve basic amenities and infrastructure in rural areas; and • To improve and enhance the overall delivery system and poverty eradication programmes. The target groups of the SRIB are landowners, self-sufficient farmers practising shifting cultivation, and communities living in the rural and isolated areas. While this initiative is not designed to specifically cater to IP, the target groups mentioned include a large number of them. Implicitly, the SRIB projects aimed at reducing poverty amongst farmers employ the principle of free, prior and informed consent (FPIC) as no farmer is forced to participate in the land development project. Rather, interested farmers can apply from the SRIB for their land to be developed, and is based on a set of eligibility criteria that has been determined by the SRIB. 106 Sabah Rubber Industry Board (SRIB), ‘Introduction’ (SRIB, 2 October, 2012) <http://www.ligs.sabah.gov.my/?page_id=38>accessed 7 September 2014 104 Ibid. 105 Ibid. 106 SRIB, ‘Syarat-Syarat dan Kelayakan Penyertaan Program Tanaman Getah Secara Berkelompok’ (SRIB, 21 Julai 2014) <http://www.ligs.sabah.gov.my/index.php?page_id=1893&lang=ms>accessed 19 September 2014 103 29