Kuching, Sept 5, 2012: Sarawak PKR chairman Baru Bian has pledged that a Pakatan Rakyat government will investigate abuses of power to grab native customary rights (NCR) lands by the Barisan Nasional leaders.
“We are not talking about certain individuals, but we are talking about any abuse of power by any BN leaders to enrich themselves and their families,” the Ba’Kelalan state assemblyman told reporters today.
Picture left: Baru Bian with PKR Wanita national vice head Voon Shiak Ni (right) and Sarawak PKR assistant secretary Lynette Tan at the press conference.
Baru, a well-known NCR land lawyers whose legal firm is handling over 100 NCR land cases with the court, said the BN leaders who might be investigated by the PR government included Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Alfred Jabu Numpang.
He said that the PR government will set up a Land Commission whose main task will be to investigate all disputed alienation of all lands, including NCR land, and to take up appropriate action where it is found that lands were taken from the people by dishonest means or in abuse of power to enrich politicians, their families and cronies.
Baru slammed Jabu for accusing a particular Opposition party of employing tactics resembling the method used by the communists in the early days of the formation of Malaysia.
Jabu cited as an example the communists stealing rice from one longhouse and giving it to another longhouse, claiming that it was theirs.
Baru stressed:”As a leader of the Opposition, I am requesting Jabu to be more specific in his allegations. Which party is he pointing his finger at? What exactly is it that he thinks the Opposition is now stealing from the people?
“Unlike some members of the ruling elite and their families and cronies, the members of the Opposition are in no position to steal anything from the people, and I give my assurance that when we take over the administration of this state, we will not emulate the shameful land-grabbing practices of the current crop of leaders which have caused great suffering to the native people who have lost their lands and livelihood.
“That statement by Jabu was perhaps not the most astute thing to say as it only serves to focus the minds of people on the allegations of land grabs and contract monopoly against the serving politicians.
As for belittling the government to incite hate, let me say that the Opposition is merely telling the truth about what is happening to Sarawak, its lands and people under the administration of the BN government.
“There is no law against telling the truth and questioning the government’s actions. Love or hate for the government is earned by the actions of those who are entrusted to govern, and not brought about by those who merely tell the truths,” Baru said.
He asked:”If Jabu can refute what we say by producing facts, please do so. Do not make baseless and far-fetched accusations which can only back-fire on himself in an embarrassing manner.”
