PH MP calls on Putrajaya to allocate NCR perimeter survey funds
KUCHING: The Pakatan Harapan federal government has been urged by its own lawmaker from Sarawak to continue providing special financial allocations for the perimeter survey of native customary rights ( NCR) land in the state.
Mordi Bimol (DAP-Mas Gading) said the PH election manifesto for the 14th General Election held in May had mentioned about guaranteeing the right of customary land, establishing Special Land Tribunal, and providing funds to carry out a complete study which can accurately identify the customary land boundaries.
“Since 2010, the previous government had allocated RM154.5 million of federal funds for perimeter survey although its implementation was unclear. However, the Budget from this new government did not even touch on native land.
“Therefore, I suggest a special allocation for ( NCR) perimeter survey to continue and the special tribunal as mentioned in the Pakatan Harapan manifesto to be established.
“Do this on the basis of responsibility, not for GPS (Gabungan Parti Sarawak), but for the rural communities,” he said in his speech when debating the 2019 Federal Budget in Parliament on Wednesday.
His text- of- speech was made available to the local media yesterday.
On another matter, Mordi also suggested the new federal government give special allocations to other religions apart from Islam for upgrading or rebuilding of their houses of worship in Sabah and Sarawak.
He lamented it was unfair that members of parliament can only give out a maximum of RM10,000 from their own allocations for upgrading projects involving house of worship, but not to fund programmes organised by nonMuslim religious bodies.
Even though there is a Unit for Other Religions ( Unifor) recently established in Sarawak, he said funds channelled by Unifor is not enough and this has led to many non- Muslim religious bodies holding fundraising dinners in order to accumulate enough funds to upgrade their respective houses of worship.
He pointed out that in Mas Gading alone, there are some 70 churches needing funds for repairs and rebuilding, but they have no other choice but to raise funds from the public.
“In urban areas, they face little problem to raise funds but not in the rural areas which can be a burden.
“They are not asking the government to build the church; they are asking for some assistance from the government to help them (to repair and rebuild the church). They may need RM300,000 but the government through the member of parliament can only give RM10,000. This is sad,” he said.
Mordi also touched on the MD2 pineapple project in his constituency which was implemented by the previous government at a cost of RM1.3 million.
He hoped the farmers and agropreneurs involved in this project who are affected by the change of government will receive some sort of assistance.
He also called on the government not to overlook the construction of Selampit Bridge, which has been delayed for 15 years since it was announced by the previous government.