By Peter Sibon
KUCHING, Nov 1: Refusal to allocate more funding to complete the survey of native customary rights (NCR) land could be yet another move by Pakatan Harapan-led government to curtail the rights of Sarawakians.
Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr James Masing criticised Putrajaya for its failure to provide allocation for the NCR land perimeter survey initiative under Budget 2020.
“Such a move was a planned tactic of Pakatan to do away with the rights of the natives over their NCR land, similar to the suggestions made by some Pakatan leaders to do away with the state’s right over immigration,” he opined.
The Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) president said the federal government had passed various laws in Parliament, such as the Territorial Sea Act 2012, to reduce the state’s rights.
The Act has limited Sarawak economic waters to only 12km from shore, thus reducing its prized oil and gas assets, he added.
“Recently, YB Zuraida Kamaruddin, Minister of Housing and Local Council, had said that it was ridiculous for the people from Peninsular Malaysia to use passports to come to Sarawak.
“It is not a question of being ridiculous or not. It was a question of agreement during the formation of Malaysia in 1963.
“She continued by declaring that ‘once we (Pakatan) government take over Sarawak, we will amend the Sarawak immigration autonomy’,” Masing told DayakDaily today.
Masing and other Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) leaders addressed Sarawak issues to the state lawmakers at a closed-door “Parliamentary Discourse 2019” here today.
He reiterated that the same sentiment on immigration autonomy was highlighted by Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia deputy president and Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir.
“Not a single Sarawakian MP or state elected representative from Pakatan issued a cry of objection to any of these declarations. So, do you trust the lawmakers associated with the Pakatan government from Sarawak to look and protect our interests and rights?” he continued.
“I’m sure there are a few more assets and properties belonging to Sarawak which are in the minds of the Peninsular Malaysian MPs. I’m quite certain, one of them will be our NCR land asset. That is why Pakatan government refuses to give us any more funds to do perimeter survey on our NCR,” Masing claimed.
He believed that Pakatan’s agenda of not giving fund for perimeter survey is to open NCR land for grab by the Pakatan government should they take over Sarawak.
He reasoned that once the perimeter survey was done under Section 6 of the Sarawak Land Code, others could not encroach into NCR land. Ownership is secured to the natives in Sarawak.
Masing referenced how the previous Barisan Nasional (BN) administration had channelled millions of ringgit to Sarawak to carry out the perimeter survey.
He urged state elected representatives to tell Sarawakians to continue supporting GPS government and ensure that Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) was not controlled by outsiders.
Chief Minister Datuk Pattingi Abang Johari Tun Openg and Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas were present. — DayakDaily
