By Ashley Sim
KUCHING, Sept 10: A peaceful demonstration was held this morning in front of the Jabatan Tanah dan Survei (JTS) office in Kota Samarahan, with about 100 indigenous residents from Kampung Merakai, Gedong, protesting a long-standing land dispute.
The ongoing dispute centers around a plantation company and the villagers of Kampung Merakai, who claim that more than 2,300 hectares of their Native Customary Rights (NCR) land have been encroached upon without proper recognition or financial compensation.
The demonstrators, carrying banners and placards, called for local representatives to intervene and assist them in solving the matter.
They also submitted a written memorandum to the JTS, urging the department to take appropriate and necessary actions to officially recognise the more than 2,300 hectares of land, now known as ‘Ladang Melur Gemilang’, as NCR land or falls under the ‘Pemakai Menua/Pulau Galau/Tanah Temuda’ category.
The peaceful demonstration concluded without any incidents, and the villagers dispersed after submitting their documents. — DayakDaily
