Best solution to solve PM and PG problems is to amend Land Code, not meeting with the natives

Press statement by Baru Bian, PKR Sarawak chairman.

I refer to the statement from the DCM Douglas Uggah today. As expected, it is just a feeble standard form attempt to pacify the Dayak community that offers nothing concrete. 

 

Baru Bian (centre) with former deputy president of Majlis Adat Isti-Adat Nicholas Bawin (left) and Sarawak Dayak Iban Association secretary general Nicholas Mujah at a press conference.

The desire to avoid this whole problem was the reason that before the decision of the Federal Court in TR Sandah, I had submitted a motion and a Private Member’s Bill, which made it very clear why the Sarawak Land Code needed to be amended and set out the amendments which need to be made.

My colleagues and I even met Adenan Satem about this issue twice – once before he became the Chief Minister and the other time just after he took office. Both times he showed his ‘willingness to listen’ and to ‘find amicable and reasonable solutions’.

On both occasions, I explained the legal issues to him and gave him a bundle of the case law on the subject matter, emphasizing that this concerned not only the Ibans, but all the native communities.

That was a long time ago and as evidenced by more recent events, he did not do anything but allowed the government to carry on with its appeal in the TR Sandah case.

That in itself should show the people that the government of the CM does not want to acknowledge their rights to pemakai menoa and pulau galau.

Now that the CM and his BN ministers have realized the consequences of their complacency and negligence, they are trying to dodge the issue.

There is really nothing to discuss with the native communities. Pemakai menoa and pulau galau are recognized as their rightful lands by custom and adat.

There is no question of a negotiated recognition, or a partial recognition, or a conditional recognition.

These rights must be recognised by amending the Land Code. Nothing short of this is acceptable. Waiting for the decision of the TR Sandah review is not an option either.

We cannot put our hopes on a favourable decision, as that is not a guaranteed outcome. The best solution is amendment of the Land Code. It is, in fact, the only solution.- January 4, 2017