Sarawak govt professional in dealing with land and politics, says Abang Johari

By Lian Cheng and Ling Hui

BINTULU, Nov 3: Bintulu Development Authority (BDA) chairman Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said the Sarawak government is professional in dealing with land issues, as it will compensate landowners who can provide evidence of ownership of land which the government uses for development. 

He lamented that land issues have been brought up in every election.

“We will pay compensation to the legitimate land owners. Legitimate means you have all your documents and history (of residing on the land), then we will pay. So no issue.

“Every election, NCR (native customary land rights) land issues will always be brought up.  We have tackled NCR (issues) but people still want to bring it up.  

“So we are very professional. In politics we are professional also. We base (our decision on land issues) on our law, the Land Code. If it is (the claim) legitimate, we pay the compensation,” said Abang Johari at a press conference after visiting the Jepak Integrated Administrative Centre project, which is presently under construction.

Citing Darul Hana of Kuching as an example, he said the government paid for the affected villagers to move. 

The compensation received by the villagers was later used to buy new houses built by the government, which are larger and nicer, he said.

For extended families, Abang Johari said they were relocated to Sungai Bedaun, where they enjoy ample space in their residences while the residential area itself is complete with amenities and infrastructure such as proper roads.

“When the government wants to develop, it’s the government’s fault, that it wants to take away people’s land. It is as if the government is always wrong. But (in fact), we (just) want to help the people,” said Abang Johari, who is also Premier of Sarawak.

Earlier, when visiting the model houses of Jepak Jaya residential area at Jelutong, Abang Johari was asked by the media to clarify if the land Jepak Jaya is situated on is NCR land or State land.

The question arose after several Kampung Jepak residents claimed that the land earmarked for the Jepak Jaya development project was their ancestral land.  

In response to the question, Abang Johari stressed that the government usually makes compensation to legitimate land owners when their land is acquired for development.

The recent land claim, he said, has emerged because it is a convenient issue played up by certain political parties during the Jepak by-election. — DayakDaily