BETONG, July 19: The Native Customary Rights (NCR) land and its ownership is recognised by the Sarawak government under Section 6 of the state land code.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas reiterated today that should such land be needed by the land owners for any development purposes, they would be compensated fairly.
“It is ludicrous and pathetic that some people are still saying otherwise.
“They are slandering the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) government to suit their own agendas,” he said after presenting RM474,000 in compensation to 27 recipients whose land had been affected by a road project in Ulu Bayor in Debak near here.
Earlier, Uggah who is Bukit Saban assemblyman attended a “miring” ceremony performed by longhouse chiefs in conjunction with the commencement of work to construct the 7.4-kilometre long Penom/Ulu Bayor/Danau/ Betong road phase 1 which has an estimated cost of RM9.9 million.
He said the presentation of compensation to land owners was yet another testimony that the GPS government recognises NCR land and its ownership under Section 6 of the Sarawak Land Code.
Meanwhile, Uggah who is Agriculture, Native Land and Regional Development Minister, advised longhouse folks who are benefitting from treated water supply now not to do away with their old gravity feed water system.
He believed the old gravity feed water system is still useful if the longhouse folks experienced interruption for their water supply.
On the measure to prevent Covid-19 in the Betong area, Uggah who is the chairman of the State Disaster Management Committee, praised the folks of Rh Jimmy Ngelambai where the function was held for their compliance with the standard operating procedures (SOPs) that were laid out to combat the pandemic.
Uggah and his entourage had on their arrival at the longhouse had their body temperatures taken and recorded.
He observed that a bottle of hand sanitiser was also being prepared for all the guests and the sitting arrangement at the ” ruai” of the longhouse chief reflected appropriate social distancing being practised.
He also observed that most of the people have been practicing the SOPs including wearing face masks.
“It is very commendable that your longhouse committee is doing all these.
“It is not that you fear the law but you are observing the SOPs willingly for the sake of your family members, relatives and your community.
“I hope such caring community spirit will continue to exist as long as the virus is still around,” he added.
Meanwhile, political secretary to the Chief Minister Dr Richard Rapu, the Resident of Betong Division Friday Belik and the divisional JKR engineer Chiresley Francis Kureng were among those attending the function. —DayakDaily
