NCR land issue should not be made a political tool — PKR

KUCHING: The Native Customary Rights ( NCR) land issue must not be taken as a political issue by either the ruling political party or the opposition party.

In stressing this, PKR Tarat coordinator Musa Ngog said the issue was a test of the state’s political will to amend the Sarawak Land Code to enable Pemakai Menoa and Pulau Galau have a force of law in the state.

According to Musa, political will was crucial to amend the law in the State Legislative Assembly (DUN).

“In the subject of NCR land rights, all native civil societies should join hands to urge the ruling government to study the law and amend it.

“Otherwise, change of government is extremely needed,” he said in a press statement yesterday.

Musa believed that NCR land rights should be firmly enforced by the law and not by a right of claim, adding that the recent ruling by the Federal Court over Pemakai Menoa and Pulau Galau was an obvious affirmative action of discrimination to the natives.

Commenting on the NCR forum held last weekend, Musa, who was also at the forum, said he had expected the forum to be attended by all Dayak leaders regardless of their political standings to discuss on one particular and crucial matter that had affected them badly.

He considered the absence of some Dayak state elected representatives and leaders from non-governmental organisations ( NGOs) and associations at the forum due to conflict of interest as unacceptable.