KUCHING, June 28: The highly-anticipated amendment to the Sarawak Land Code will not be made public until it is tabled in the State Legislative Assembly (DUN), which is scheduled to sit next month.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas said the state attorney-general (SAG) briefed members of the state cabinet this morning on the proposed amendment, and everyone collectively agreed with it.
“The agenda of today’s cabinet meeting was with regards to the amendment of the Land Code Bill. We were briefed by the SAG, and it will be tabled during the DUN sitting next month.
“I cannot give you any details until I table it in DUN as this is confidential. However, everyone in the cabinet has agreed to it,” Uggah told reporters at Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg’s Gawai-Raya open house today.
The state government is in the process of resolving the present land administration system and other outstanding issues such as the definitions of ‘pemakai menoa’ (territorial domain) and ‘pulau galau’ (communal forest reserves), which the Dayak community has claimed as their native customary rights (NCR) lands.
Sarawak’s present land administration system is based on the principle of the ‘temuda’ (land which had been cleared, occupied and cultivated by natives), and there are many court cases and endless disputes with regards to the recognition of ‘pemakai menoa’ and ‘pulau galau’.
Meanwhile, on politics, the reporters approached Abang Johari for his comments on Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia’s (PPBM) intention to enter Sarawak. He replied that the state could not stop anyone or political parties from setting up branches in sarawak.
“Based on the law, we cannot say no to PPBM. It is up to Sarawakians to choose whether they want to accept this party or not.
“Of course we do not want a Malaya-based party in Sarawak because we have and prefer our own state party. But let us leave it to the people here to judge and decide,” he said. — DayakDaily
