KUCHING, Nov 19, 2014: In a landmark decision, the
Federal Court ruled that native customary rights (NCR) landowners can now challenge
the public authority by way of writs of summons, not by judicial review as
applied for by the state government, in NCR land disputes.
The apex court, thus, upheld the decision of the High
Court which was later affirmed by the Court of Appeal, in dismissing the state
government's application that NCR land disputes be initiated by way of judicial
review to challenge the public authority.