PBDSB backs Land Code amendment if it strengthens native land ownership
KUCHING: Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak Baru (PBDSB) hopes the upcoming proposed amendments to the Sarawak Land Code (SLC) will be a move to strengthen native land ownership, said its president Bobby William.
He pointed out that like everyone else, PBDSB is in the dark in regard to which part or section of the SLC is going to be amended, and what the specific amendments are.
“PBDS will support any amendment that is not meant to derogate native land ownership and/or Customary Rights land,” he said in a statement yesterday.
He was commenting on news reports quoting Premier of Sarawak Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg as saying a Bill related to the amendment of the SLC will be tabled during State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting this month. Abang Johari was quoted as saying the Bill would “strengthen our rights from a few angles” and added that more information would be released once it is formalised.
Bobby pointed out that PBDSB will oppose amendments tabled, which when read, “is intended to further erode or extinguish the rights of the native landowners, as has been systematically done and approved in DUN Sarawak before”.
He also said PBDSB strongly condemned a certain minister who issued a statement in which the latter claimed that all land that had not been surveyed was state land.
“The statement reflects his ignorance of the law and utter disrespect for the Natives. PBDSB therefore would like the government to clarify as to whether the statement is personal to the minister concerned or otherwise,” Bobby said.