BETONG: The Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) government has not “washed its hands” of native land matters after amending the Sarawak Land Code in 2018.
Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas said efforts to survey native customary rights (NCR) land and issue titles under Sections 6 and 18 remained ongoing.
He also rejected claims that Section 6 surveys would allow the government to seize NCR land, saying such misinformation had left about 25,000 hectares in Krian unsurveyed.
“That is a lie. Look at what we have done. To date, 1.2 million hectares have been surveyed under Section 6, with more than 900,000 hectares gazetted, compared with only 260,000 hectares up to 2010.
“We have increased not only the allocation but also the number of officers to expedite the surveying process,” he said at the Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) Betong Zone Convention here today.
Uggah, who is also PBB’s Deputy President, noted that the code was amended after Tuai Rumah Sandah lost his court claim over Pemakai Menoa and Pulau Galau in 2016.
He said the government could have allowed the ruling to stand, which would have resulted in natives losing their rights over such land.
Instead, Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg directed the code to be amended to give Pemakai Menoa and Pulau Galau legal recognition.
“The Premier was concerned that native communities, particularly the Dayaks, would lose their land and inheritance. That is the outcome, and it is not merely a political gimmick.
“Today, we have seen a Native Communal Title (NCT) under Section 6A issued to Temenggong Boniface Bada for 304 hectares of land at Sungai Senga, Suai, Niah. The title was issued in perpetuity at no cost to the recipient,” he added.
As such, Uggah stressed that the GPS government was determined to ensure native landowners received titles and legal recognition over their land.
He urged the people to reject those spreading claims that land surveyed under Section 6 would be seized by the government.
“Reject them in the coming election and give GPS a stronger majority so that we can proceed with surveying the land,” he said.
