Correct misconception on NCR land status – Masing

KUCHING: Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr James Masing says Dayak Native Customary Right (NCR) land were acquired by their forefathers through ‘blood, sweat and tears’ and must not be viewed as being given by the government.

He was responding to the view of a historian presented at the recent Pemakai Menua and Pulau Galau’ conference held here and chided him for his failure to understand the history of NCR land in Sarawak.

“His presentation during the last ‘Conference for Community Leaders on Pemakai Menua and Pulau Galau’ (PMPG) was misleading and could create an animosity between the Dayaks and the Malays. As a historian, he should know his facts well. So we hoped that he will correct his misconception about the Dayak’s NCR land issue,” Masing told The Borneo Post here yesterday.

Masing who is also PRS president, stressed that the State Government is trying to ‘correct the wrong’ to ensure that NCR land owners could finally have land title with the enactment of a comprehensive law which it planned to table in the next DUN sitting scheduled in July. Masing added that Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg reiterated that the state government need to find a comprehensive solution to the NCR land issue by forming a task force which is headed by Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah.

During a press conference after officiating the function, Abang Johari had also admitted that since there is a loophole in the present law on NCR land, it is therefore necessary for the state government to come up with a solution that would give ‘force of law’ for NCR land in the state.

The Federal Court ruled in December 2016 that the native custom of “pemakai menoa” (territorial domain) and “pulau galau” (communal forest reserve) had no force of law in Sarawak when it allowed an appeal by the Forest Department and the State government in a case filed by headman Sandah Tabau and seven other NCR landowners over an area in Ulu Machan, Kanowit.

On a related issue, Masing who is also Minister of Infrastructure Development and Transportation advised village and longhouse chiefs to be cautious and transparent when entering into any joint venture agreement with any party to develop their community NCR land to avoid losing the land or get entangled in court cases.

Meanwhile, a statement issued by the secretariat during the recent conference on PMPG revealed that 1.2 million hectares of land has been approved by the state Government for perimeter survey as at Jan 21 this year.