by DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, May 17: Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof says the Sarawak government is currently negotiating with the Federal administration to regain ownership of land in Sekuau, which includes a resettlement area originally developed with Federal funding.
According to a news report by Sarawak Public Communication Unit (Ukas), Fadillah said he will raise the matter at the Federal level and pursue the transfer of the land back to Sarawak’s administration.
“The bottom line is for us to first resolve the land issue in Sekuau. Earlier during the briefing, the Land and Survey Department provided information that this area was partly funded by the Federal government when the settlement area was established.
“Currently, the Sarawak government and the Federal government are negotiating so that this land can be handed over back to the Sarawak government.
“With that, the Sarawak government will be able to distribute it to the residents, as previously promised, several acres each, as well as for the development of basic facilities such as police stations, schools, clinics and others,” he said when officiating the Nanga Sekuau Resettlement Scheme Golden Jubilee Celebration in Selangau, Sibu today.
He added that the issue would be tabled at the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) Technical Committee, which he chairs, particularly as the Federal government has agreed to hand over unused Federal lands to the respective state governments.
“I fully commit to investigating the current status of this land when I return to Kuala Lumpur,” he added.
Meanwhile, Fadillah also announced an allocation of RM560,000 for the longhouse repairs in Sekuau.
In addition, he announced the approval of the construction of a new community hall in Sekuau which is estimated to cost RM1.3 million. – DayakDaily
