Local community leader dismisses land grab allegation
A local community leader in Kampung Siru Melayu here rubbished the allegation that Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr James Jemut Masing, Edwin Banta and Datuk Wilfred Rata Nissom were involved in Native Customary Rights ( NCR) land grab in his village.
Marban Suud told The Borneo Post that the land in question was sold off by his father, Suud Bin Basuni and his two late brothers Saili Bin Basuni and Anis Bin Basuni to Datuk Wilfred Rata Nissom on 30th October 1996, witnessed by Penghulu Mos Bin Sulong.
“I have the record of the letter with me and I will send it to you shortly,” he said, when met at Kampung Siru Community Hall on Wednesday.
Marban also revealed that he was shocked to receive a phone call from Lundu District Officer asking about the allegation of the land grab in Kampung Siru Melayu, Sematan made prominent by a social media page.
He explained that everyone in his village, especially the children of the landowners and their close relatives knew that the land in question was sold off more than 20 years.
“I really don’t understand what the noise is all about. Nobody in this village is making any claim over the land,” he said.
A quick check at Sematan Sub District office revealed that a letter was prominently displayed at the notification board, seeking clarification over the ownership of the NCR land.
The confusion probably arose as all the NCR rights claimant named are deputy chief minister and president of Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS), the party’s deputy treasurer general and publicity chief who are all Dayaks.
The Borneo Post tried to speak to Sarawak Administrative Officer of Sematan but was told that the previous officer had been promoted and his position has yet to be filled.
A junior staff told The Borneo Post the issue was blown out of proportion by outsiders who have little knowledge of the local affairs, and land transaction in the nearby villages.
“Tan Sri has bought the land long time ago, three of us here are from Kampung Sebat (next to Kampung Siru Melayu), the noise came when Land and Survey want to issue land title,” she explained.