‘Amendment to Land Code will not diminish NCR over land’

KUCHING: The amendment to the Sarawak Land Code involving native customary rights ( NCR) over land – if passed during the current State Legislative Assembly ( DUN) sitting – will not contribute to diminishing the NCR.

According to Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah, although Section 5 of the Sarawak Land Code, which recognises the existence of ‘ pemakai menoa’ and ‘ pulau galau’ ( PMPG), is to be amended, it does not mean that the Dayak community will lose their NCR.

In fact, he said the NCR – under a new name – will be given the effect of force of law through the amendment.

Speaking at Sarakup Indu Dayak Sarawak’s ( SIDS) 61st anniversary dinner here on Sunday night, Uggah allayed fears among members of the Dayak community by assuring them that the Sarawak government under Gabungan Parti Sarawak ( GPS) is committed to resolving issues surrounding PMPG “once and for all”, with the amendment on relevant provisions in the Land Code.

Uggah said he will spell out in detail the particulars of the amended Bill during the State Legislative Assembly ( DUN) sitting tomorrow (July 11).

“The Land Code amendment bill will resolve issues on pemakai menoa and pulau galau which do not have force of law under the present Land Code.

“The purpose of this amendment to the Land Code is to give the force of law to the customs on pemakai menoa and pulau galau,” he said.

Uggah pointed out that the Sarawak government has no other intention except making sure that issues surrounding PMPG are resolved.

He said the amendment of the Land Code is a much- anticipated event for the people after all that had been said in the print and social media.

He pointed out that the GPS government had kept its promise when it said that the amended Bill is to be tabled in July this year.

Uggah also did not deny that many people have their own interest over the issues.

The Pakatan Harapan coalition has said that its assemblymen will oppose the Bill when debating on it in the august House, claiming to have detected some shortcomings in the Bill.