SIBU, Nov 24: Perimeter surveys carried out on NCR land by the State government has resulted in the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) receiving 50 per cent less complaints in the last three years.
Suhakam assistant secretary, Sophian Osman told reporters today after a half-day talk titled ‘Human Rights and Your Role’ that in the past 15 years, the number of complaints it received could be as much as 50 complaints a year but this had decreased by half in the last three years.
The talk, jointly organised by the Sarawak Dayak Iban Association Rajang Branch and Suhakam was attended by about 30 longhouse chiefs.
“For the past 25 years, the number is quite high of around 50 cases a year. But after the government implemented a number of initiatives including conducting perimeter surveys, the number has decreased by 50 per cent. Though we are still receiving cases, the number is not so high now,” said Sophian.
He noted that issues related to NCR land can be difficult to address, especially on the technical aspect.
“Technically it is difficult to address and it takes time. But nothing is impossible. We can assist the related agencies involved in a certain way. Sometimes there is no clear cut case especially on the right claimant when the land has no title,” he said.
Most of the complaints involved land ownership, encroachment and insufficient compensation.
“An example of insufficient compensation is when you have a durian tree which can produce up to RM100 worth of fruits but you were compensated just RM5,” he said.
Earlier, he told the participants that the PBDSB book on State Land Code Section 18, could only be used as a reference as the court had yet to gazette it.
The book is a translated version from English to Iban.
“You can use this book as a reference only on issues related to land as the court has yet to gazette it,” he said.
PBDSB secretary-general Julius Enchanoi said his party had published the book in Iban so that the Dayak community could read it to understand the said land code.
Among those present was Sadia-Rajang president Bill Jugah. — DayakDaily
