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By Ashley Sim
KUCHING, June 7: Prime Minister Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim has announced an additional RM10 million for perimeter surveys on Native Customary Rights (NCR) lands in Sarawak this year.
Anwar stated this during the Sarawak-level Gawai Dayak celebration which was held earlier tonight at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK).
“Rights must be respected, so we will add another RM10 million this year for the NCR land surveys, which is critical in assisting the Dayak community in resolving land issues,” Anwar said.
Earlier, in his speech, Sarawak Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas appealed to Anwar to consider increasing the allocation for NCR land surveys.
“The land area of NCR in Sarawak is estimated at around 1.5 million hectares. Of this area, only 1.1 million hectares have been measured under Section 6, while only 85,000 hectares or 68,700 lots have been completed in accordance with Section 18.
“Both the federal and State governments contribute to the costs of the surveys.
“A sum of RM150 million in grants was given under the Special Bumiputera Programme (PKB) from 2010 to 2017,” Uggah explained, noting that after 2018, the amount allocated was drastically reduced and only RM2 million was given this year.
“So, tonight, on behalf of the Dayak Bumiputera community, I humbly appeal to the Prime Minister to give consideration to increase the measurement allocation for PKB-Customary Land Measurement Cluster.”
Among others present at the event were Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg, Head of State Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud and his wife Toh Puan Datuk Patinggi Raghad Kurdi Taib, Deputy Prime Minister Dato Sri Fadillah Yusof, and Deputy Premier of Sarawak Dato Sri Dr Sim Kui Hian. — DayakDaily
