PRS Women wing lauds Adenan’s proposal to meet Dayak leaders
KUCHING: The Women’s wing of Parti Rakyat Sarawak ( PRS) lauds Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem’s proposal to meet Dayak leaders on issues surrounding the Federal Court’s declaration that native customary rights ( NCR) over pemakai menoa and pulau galau land has no force of law in Sarawak.
In a press statement received here yesterday the Women’s wing said: “In reference to the statement by Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem in the Dec 27 edition of The Borneo Post that he wanted to call Dayak leaders to deliberate on the recent decision on pemakai menoa and pulau galau by the Federal Court, we, like the youth wing, laud the move too.
“We are glad to hear the proposal and hopefully it will be soon,” said their secretary councillor Misiah Abdullah.
“It is our hope that the meeting will pave the way for a positive solution for the Dayaks. This issue ( pemakai menoa and pulau galau) has been haunting us Dayaks for too long; it needs to be resolved amicably.
“In reference to Nicholas Bawin’s claim that Majlis Adat Istiadat Sarawak ( MAIS) had made effort in wanting to amend the Majlis Adat Ordinance 1977 but was met by stumbling block, we feel that, regardless, it must be pursued at all cost and the matter must be the prime topic of discussion with the chief minister,” said Misiah.
The PRS Women wing also hoped that all Dayak leaders with good and sound knowledge of NCR land will work together with MAIS to redefine the term so that a law can be tabled based on MAIS’ recommendations.
Women chief Dato Sri Doris Brodie said: “It is with this regard too that we fully support our president Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr James Masing when he often times suggested that the definition of pemakai menoa and pulau gulau must be done with MAIS taking the lead.”
She added that once the definition on pulau galau and pemakai menoa was done, MAIS could recommend that it be tabled and when accepted, to become law of the land. Only then would the term ‘no force of laws’ becomes irrelevant..
“However, for a start, a clear definition of pulau galau and pemakai menoa must be done by Dayak experts and MAIS must take the lead,” Doris added.
She added that Adenan’s proposal for a discussion with Dayak leaders on the issue showed that he understood the Dayaks’ exasperation and what NCR land meant to them.
“It is our life and livelihood. It is pointless now to harp and finger-point at each other, we need to move forward through open and professional discourse; the chief minister is paving the way,” Doris said.
In a related development, lawyer Baru Bian has said he would file a review on the federal court’s decision, hoping that the review, if allowed, would see a different panel of judges handling it.