Who owns our land?
This was what happened on Monday (Nov 10) in front of the state legislative assembly building at Petra Jaya where 50 protestors staged a peaceful demonstration demanding that their Native Customary Right (NCR) lands be safeguarded.
The group apparently initiated by the opposition assemblymen named themselves a Kembara Jaringan Tanah Hak Adat Orang Asal Sarawak.
They managed to hand over a memorandum to a representative which include six issues and problems while nine recommendations including for the Court to prioritise NCR issues.
Although the government claims that these people had settled in the area in 1970's which was classified as 'new settlement' (since the land law stated that those who settled before 1958 are eligible to be classified as NCR), it still remains that these people are the remnants of those who pioneer in developing the land.
I don't think that any of the authority ever land a hand in helping to clear the jungle and set up the settlement in the area. So what right has the authority to say that the lands are not the settlers'?
"Without verification, it's difficult to assist them..." said an assemblyman from Kemena, Dr Stephen Rundi in response to the protestors' earlier request for the issue to be settled.
What verification is needed? These people have settled on the land, they have farms, they have houses and settlement, what more proof is that? These people have approached the relevant authorities for the issue to be settled but their voices were not heard and their complaints ignored.
Sure this is the type of issue that should not be swept under the carpet by the current administration, as this incident may be one of many to come if not being handled well.
Don't blame the opposition for the fiasco, they have done well to highlight the issue, actually this was just the tip of the iceberg.
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