By Adrian Lim
KUCHING, Sept 3: Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg has rebutted claims that native customary rights (NCR) land surveys under Section 6 are unnecessary.
“There is someone who objected through the (land survey) process and instigated other people not to accept land (surveys) under Section 6.
“Strange isn’t? Other people are prohibited but he dares. And he instigates other people and that becomes a problem,” he said in his speech during the presentation of development grants for the construction of a community hostel at the Dayak Bidayuh National Association (DBNA) headquarters here today.
Abang Johari added that there were some people who tried to spin and twist facts on social media about the surveying of NCR land and also about Dayak rights not being protected.
Abang Johari who is the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) chairman said social media users now are very smart as they know how to analyse and determine who and what are right.
Earlier, he revealed Bidayuh leaders have volunteered to have their land be surveyed by the Land and Survey Department for the land to be classified as NCR.
Abang Johari added the Bidayuh community is a role model for other communities to emulate as they have allowed their land to be surveyed by the state government to be determined as NCR.
He said under Section 6 and Section 18 of the Sarawak Land Code, the state government will issue individual land titles to the owners, and that land which has been surveyed have been given their respective individual owners.
He noted that before land is declared as NCR, the land must be surveyed and there must be a request from community leaders to survey the land.
Recently, Ba’Kelalan assemblyman Baru Bian asserted that the surveying of NCR land under Section 6 of the Sarawak Land Code was unnecessary.
The Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) presidential council member said surveys under Section 6 is not a precondition to a survey to be done under Section 18 of the Sarawak Land Code.
Section 6 of the Sarawak Land Code is applied by the Land and Survey Department to conduct a perimeter survey of land to be gazetted as native community reserves before the department proceeds with individual lots surveys under Section 18 for the issuance of land titles.
Meanwhile, on the construction of the community hostel, Abang Johari said it represented the success of the Bidayuh community in building another iconic building to generate income for the association.
At the event, he presented a development grant for an initial sum of RM6.75 million for the project from the state government.
Abang Johari said the remaining amount of the total RM16 million for the construction of the community hostel will be handed over to DBNA over the next six months.
Among those present at the event were DBNA chief adviser Datuk Seri Michael Manyin Jawong who is also the Education, Science and Technological Research Minister, DBNA president Datuk Ik Pahon Joyik who is also the Deputy State Secretary, the Prime Minister’s Special Envoy to East Asia Datuk Seri Richard Riot Jaem, Deputy State Secretary Datuk Seri Abu Bakar Marzuki, community leaders and other guests. — DayakDaily
