Asfia expects Land Code (Amend) Bill 2018 to be passed this sitting
KUCHING: State Legislative Assembly ( DUN) Speaker Datuk Amar Mohammad Asfia Awang Nassar expects the Land Code (Amendment) Bill 2018 to be passed during this DUN sitting.
According to him, the Bill will be “better than the decision of the Federal Court”.
“The decision of the Federal Court by the majority of the federal judges determined that the ‘ pemakai menoa’ and ‘ pulau galau’ had no force of law.
“This amendment goes beyond that...not just giving the natives the rights to hunt or forage for food but the propriety rights over the land they claim also. So, I expect it to be passed,” he told reporters when met after attending the opening ceremony of the 18th DUN sitting which was officiated by Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud at the DUN Complex here yesterday.
He also expressed his surprise at Ba Kelalan assemblyman Baru Bian’s statement that the Land Code (Amendment) Bill 2018 is “far from the court’s decision”.
“This amendment does more than the decision of the Federal Court. I don’t know what he (Baru) expects,” he exclaimed.
The Bill, which will be tabled by Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas tomorrow (July 11), will introduce the concept of native territorial domain and usufructuary rights to cover the pemakai menoa (territorial domain) and pulau galau (communal forest reserve).
“Under the new terms of native territorial domain, you don’t confine it only to one ethnic group.
“This native territorial domain will open the door to other natives plus usufructuary rights that will also give rights to other natives apart from the Iban,” explained Asfia.
Baru on Sunday told a press conference that he was aware of the draft on the amendment, which he said was not consistent with the court’s decision as far as pemakai menoa and pulau galau were concerned.
In view of this, the PKR Sarawak chairman said he, together with his colleagues from the opposition, will participate in the debate and will strongly oppose it.