By Shikin Louis
KUCHING, Aug 1: About 25,000 hectares of Native Customary Rights (NCR) land in Krian have yet to be surveyed under Section 6 because of “instigators”, says Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas.
Uggah, who is also Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) deputy president, claimed the delay was caused by individuals who had stirred opposition to the surveying exercise, and urged voters to reject them in the coming State election so the remaining land could be surveyed.
“In Krian, about 25,000 hectares of land have yet to be surveyed under Section 6 because there are instigators there.
“In the coming election, defeat them, give GPS a bigger majority, and we will carry out the land survey,” he said during the PBB’s Special Convention for Betong Zone today, which was broadcast live on the GPS Facebook page.
Uggah made the remarks while defending the GPS government’s record on safeguarding NCR land rights, particularly following the Federal Court’s 2016 Tuai Rumah Sandah decision.
He said the court ruling had rejected claims over Pemakai Menua and Pulau Galau, leaving the State government with two options — to allow the decision to stand or to introduce a political solution by amending the Sarawak Land Code.
According to him, Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg chose the latter by directing amendments to the Land Code in 2018 to provide legal recognition for Pemakai Menua and Pulau Galau.
“For the sake of the Bumiputera and Dayak communities, the Premier was concerned that they would lose their inherited land and ancestral assets. That is why he instructed our team to amend the Sarawak Land Code to give legal force to Pulau Galau and Pemakai Menua,” he said.
Uggah also dismissed claims circulating on social media that the GPS government had abandoned NCR land issues after amending the law.
He said the government continues to issue land titles under Sections 6 and 18 of the Sarawak Land Code, with the surveying programme significantly expanded under the present administration.
He said about 1.2 million hectares of NCR land have been surveyed under Section 6, while about 900,000 hectares have been gazetted, compared with about 260,000 hectares surveyed up to 2010.
According to him, the State government had also increased allocations and manpower to accelerate the surveying and issuance of land titles.
He further cited the issuance of a Native Communal Title (NCT) under Section 6A to Temenggong Boniface Bada covering 304 hectares in Sungai Senga, Suai Niah, as proof of the government’s commitment to protecting NCR land. — DayakDaily
