Sarawak Land Development Board (SLDB) was a Malaysian body corporate active in palm oil industry and other industries founded in 1972.[1]
Sarawak Plantation Berhad (SPB;) was specially incorporated as the vehicle company for the privatisation of Sarawak Land Development Board's (SLDB) assets.[2] It has developed extensive areas for oil palm and cocoa.[3]
[4] In its early days, it took over the management of rubber schemes.[3] By 1980, it had established 15,294 ha of oil palm and cocoa, including 11,772 ha on unencumbered state land and 3,522 on what was formerly native customary land.[3] In 1981, it withdrew from almost all rubber schemes, partly due to financial difficulties.[3] In the 1980s, large-scale palm agriculture was introduced to Bekenu by SLDB.[5] At that time, the people, who protested against their customary land being mapped as state land, were arrested.[5] In 1987, its management was contracted to Sime Darby, a commercial plantation company.[3] At that point, it suffered serious losses.[6] By 2000, SLDB held 35,300 ha of land in Northern Sarawak, 50% under oil palm plantations and 49% of undeveloped forest land.[3] It dealt with the resettlement of natives.[7]