Uggah to meet CM over NCR land issue

KUCHING: Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas will discuss matters concerning native customary rights ( NCR) land with Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg in the next few days.

He said this when asked when he would be following up on resolving NCR land issues since the former chief minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem had asked him to look into the matter.

“We had some discussion yesterday ( Monday) and within these few days I will discuss it with Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari.

“I will then let you know what the next step is,” he told reporters after visiting Swee Kee Marine Sdn Bhd ice plant, fish landing and individually quick-frozen ( IQF) factory in Muara Tebas yesterday.

On Saturday, Abang Johari told reporters after chairing the PBB supreme council meeting, that Adenan’s last words to him and Uggah were for both of them to look after the state and to settle the NCR problem.

When asked if he had received a memorandum concerning NCR issues particularly on ‘ pemakai menua’ (territorial domain) and ‘pulau galau’ (communal forest reserve), Uggah said ‘no’.

Adenan had expressed his willingness to meet with Dayak leaders on the issue of ‘ pemakai menua’ and ‘pulau galau’ prior to his demise on Jan 11.

This followed an outcry from the Dayak community over the Federal Court’s ruling on Dec 19 last year that both ‘ pemakai menua’ and ‘ pulau galau’ had no force of law in Sarawak.

An NCR forum on land, organised by Dayak Intellectual Group, was held here on Jan 7 to come up with a memorandum to be presented to the chief minister.