1. The
fact that Deputy Chief Minister Douglas Uggah is the Minister in-charge of the
amendment to the Sarawak Land Code makes him the right person to defend the law
that he tabled in the July session of the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly.
If he believes that the law is the best solution for the Pemakai
Menoa and Pulau Galau (PMPG} issue, then he must defend it at all cost even
before the public. He cannot run away from his responsibility by claiming his
high position. No public servant is so high and mighty that he cannot be called
to account for his deeds.
2. Basically,
Deputy Speaker Gerawat Gala is claiming innocence of the affair that led the
Federal Court to declare that PMPG has no force of law. Has he forgotten that
whole problem was self-inflicted by the BN/GPS government?
3. Don’t Uggah
and Gerawat know that PMPG have always been recognised during the Rajah and the
Colonial era? The custom of pemakai menoa have been recorded in government
records in Baram, Bintulu-Tatau, Simanggang and also practiced throughout the
Country [Sarawak].
4. Are
they also unaware of the many decisions of the Native Courts which continuously
recognised the custom of pemakai menoa throughout Sarawak?
5. The
land grabbing problem was created by the BN /GPS regime by giving away the
native PMPG lands indiscriminately to plantation companies who then chased away
the native from their lands. Now they plead innocence. This is what the Malay
proverbs called – “tikam batu sembunyikan tangan”.
6. Gerawat
is also feigning charity by claiming that the government has done what is best
for the people by giving the people 500/1000 hectares. To that we say this to
him:
Anak minta ikan, ular diberi
Anak minta roti, batu diberi
Dayak minta iktiraf PMPG
Usufractuary 500/1000Ha diberi
Adakah ini betul?
7. If the
GPS/BN is so charitable, why do they appeal against the court’s decision which
recognised PMPG? Have DCM1 and Deputy Speaker forgotten that the BN/GPS
government went all out to appeal against the recognition of PMPG in the Court
of appeal?
8. How
can they claim victory for the recognition of only 500/1000 hectares when the
natives’ PMPG which are so much larger than that; and will now be lost by
reason of the amendment?
9. Perhaps
it is in the culture of the BN/GPS regime to insult the intelligence of the
Dayak community by asking the SAG and the MAIS to come and explain what is so
plain and clear. Why should they hide behind the SAG and MAIS instead of being
accountable for their legislative duties towards the people?
10. Since Uggah
and Gerawat think are very sure of their solution for our PMPG problem, they
must be bold enough and defend it in a public debate. But if not, they must
resign from their position as YBs – legislators.
11. Now the
problem is coming back to haunt them. Instead of solving the problem they are
creating more problem with the new law. The hue and cry of the Dayak and the
native community against the amendment, instead of ceasing, is getting louder
by the day.
12.1 The
native population are unhappy and angry because large areas of their PMPG which
they inherited will be lost. This loss by the native community will benefit
land prospectors who are cronies of those in power!!
12.2 To make
matters worse, now, the natives are required to get approval from the Land and
Survey. How can the natives be asked to apply for approval for their PMPG when
they are inherited from their ancestors? What will happened if approvals are
not given?
12.3. The use
of the term -usufructuary, turn the natives into squatters. An insult that no
one can bear when our ancestors have been here for thousands of years yet a
government that was set up yesteryears had the gall to call our rights as
usufructuary!!
12.4 When
approval has to be obtained from the Land and Survey Dept, it can no longer be
considered as customary rights! This is totally demeaning to the natives.
13. Perhaps
BN/GPS is just betting on their luck to continue to hold on the rein of power.
Their election as legislators hold them accountable to their voters. UMNO-BN
thought they will continue to rule Malaysia for another 1000 years [quoting
from Najib] not knowing that the writing is on the wall. They didn’t read it.
14. Now the
only way for the DCM and the Deputy Speaker is to come out and defend their
amendment in a public debate for the people to judge!
15. They
should be wise enough to feel that if they can no longer carry out the agenda
for the community, its time to call it a day. There is no point to hang on to
their position when they cannot do anything for the community. It’s better that
they resign from their positions with honour and dignity rather than being
discarded by the voters.- September 22, 2018
Joint statement by:
Dr Dust Jaul, Sarawak Dayak Graduates Association president
&
Paul Raja, Dayak National Congress president
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