Sidi: Dayak NGOs must keep up the pressure on the government until it recognises our rights

By Doris Theresa Yoong

KUCHING, May 9, 2015  - Sarawak Dayak Iban Association (SADIA) president Sidi Munan said Dayak NGOs must keep up the pressure on the State government until it recognises the natives as the indigenous people as having rights over lands, territories, and resources which they have traditionally owned, occupied and acquired.

"There will be no end to the quest until the State government gives legal recognition and protection to these lands, these territories, these resources which in Iban are called pemakai menoa and pulau galau as they have done to temuda.

"There will be no end to the exercise until such recognition is concluded with due respect to the customs, traditions and land tenure system of the natives landowners concerned," he said when closing a NCR Land Forum here today.

Caption: SDGA president Dr Dusit Jaul affixing his signature on the resolution while looking on (from left to right) are DNC deputy president Datuk John Tenewi Nuek, SADIA president Sidi Munan, DNC president Mengga Mikui and DNC head of legal bureau Paul Raja.

"We wish to appeal to sense of fair play to the State government to recognise this wholly trinity - temuda, pemakai menoa and pulau galau - by not appealing against the decision of the court that has recognised the same as in the case of TR Sandah Tabau," he said.

He said his speech summed up the resolution passed at the forum.

The resolution read:

1. That we shall apply to the Federal Court of Malaysia to intervene in the appeal by the Government of Sarawak against the recognition of the Iban Adat of Pemakai Menoa and Pulau Galau;

2. We beseech that the State Goverment of Sarawak to recognise the that Adat Iban of Pemakai Menoa and Pulau Galau and similar customs of all the Dayak communities in Sarawak; and

3. That all the Dayak ministers, honourable members of parliament and state legislative must voice out their support for the recognition of the Adat Iban of Pemakai Menoa and Pulau Galau and the similar customs of all other Dayak communities.

4.That a committee be set up to pursue the intervener proceedings.

The resolution was signed by presidents of Dayak National Congress (DNC) Mengga Mikui,  Sarawak Dayak Graduates Association (SDGA) Dr Dusit Jaul and Sidi.

Speaking to reporters, DNC vice president and head of its legal bureau Paul Raja said the committee will pursuing the intervener proceedings in respect of a NCR land case of TR Sandah anak Tabau and 28 others against the State government and the Kanowit Timber Company Sdn Bhd.

"We will apply to be the intervener in  the government's appeal against the Court of Appeal's decision which upheld the High Court's ruling," he said.

The court had ruled that the plaintiffs were the rightful owners of the NCR land covering an area of 5,512 hectares in Kanowit, including the pemakai menoa, and that the defendants had unlawfully encroached into the plaintiffs’ land.

With regards to the composition of the committee that will be entrusted to pursue the intervener proceedings, Paul said its members will consists of lawyers, community leaders, anthropologists, NCR land experts and NCR land activists.