Uggah: ‘Ignorance’ about Land Code amendment puzzling
KUCHING: Native customary rights ( NCR) Pemakai Menua ( PM) is now recognised, and has been given the force of law by way of an amendment to Section 6A(2) and Section ( 3)( b) of the Sarawak Land Code.
“The amendment of Section 6A( 2) and Section ( 3)( b) of the Sarawak Land Code, which was approved by the State Legislative Assembly ( DUN) on July 12, has given Pemakai Menua the force of law, and this basically means that such land is recognised,” says Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah.
Uggah said he was puzzled as to why certain people, like those attending the Dayak National Conference ( DNC) at the BCCK on Monday, were still not clear on the subject.
“I do not know what’s in their mind. The amendment (of Section 6A( 2) and Section 6A( 3)( b) of the Sarawak Land Code) is the Sarawak government’s initiative to especially recognise PM and other NCR land,” he said when asked to comment on the resolutions that the DNC passed, which they said would be forwarded to the Sarawak and federal governments soon.
More than 10 resolutions were said to be agreed upon by those present at the conference, and some of them even wanted the Sarawak government to officially recognise equivalent customs of all indigenous people, and to guarantee them ownership of their NCR Land.
The DNC also wanted the Sarawak government to be transparent when presenting financial account in regards to all NCR land development, be they joint-ventures (JV) or private schemes, and that when the temporary occupation ticket or leases expire, such land must be returned to the original owners.
Uggah, who is also Minister of Modernisation of Agriculture,
Now, the spirit of the NTD is such that ‘you can use it, you can own it’ (tau ngena, tau ngempu), unlike before when it was, ‘can use but you cannot own it’ (tau ngena tang endak tau ngempu). The indigenious people of Sarawak can make claim and own until 1,000 hectres of NTD due to this latest law. Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah, Deputy Chief Minister
Native Land and Regional Development, said he was also perplexed by the ignorance of the DNC organisers because an audit committee to audit all joint ventures involving native land had been set up.
The objective of the audit committee is to oversee the financial account including the joint cost of project on NCR land development, he added.
He stressed that amendment to Section 6A(2) of the SLC, included converting NCR land to native territorial domain ( NTD) so that it would include the NCR of races other than the Ibans.
The NTD can go up to 1,000 hectares, he added.
The amendment also provides for the provision of land titles in perpetuity to the native community, without them having to pay premium or other charges, he said.
During the press conference held after the last DUN sitting, Uggah has said that NTD would cover both PM and Pulau Galau ( PG) of up to 1,000 hectares ( 2,500 acres).
He said that was the essence of the amendment to the State Land Code via the enactment of the State Land Code Bill (Amended) 2018.
“Now, the spirit of the NTD is such that ‘you can use it, you can own it’ (tau ngena, tau ngempu), unlike before when it was, ‘can use but you cannot own it’ (tau ngena tang endak tau ngempu).
“The indigenous people of Sarawak can make claim and own until 1,000 hectares of NTD due to this latest law,” he added.
In his winding- up speech at the DUN sitting in May, 2017, Uggah said his ministry would introduce a new model to expedite the development of NCR land.
He said this model was about land occupation according to the fixed monthly rental for every hectare agreed upon by the landowners and companies using the land.
“Payment of rental will start from the first year of planting, and will continue throughout the occupation period, that is 60 years. This model ensures good returns, consistency and sustainability to the land owners,” he said.
Uggah said the occupation module would be an alternative to complete the existing joint ventures.