Statement by Baru Bian
The announcement by the CM that the government has
abolished quit rent on smallholder agricultural land and residential land is
welcomed by all Sarawakians, myself included.
However, I want to stress that this move of abolishing
quit rent does nothing to help the thousands of NCR land owners who are being
deprived of their land because of the government’s refusal to recognize the NCR
concept of pemakai menoa and pulau galau, both of which have been affirmed by
the courts. This is an issue of the fundamental rights of the people to
ownership of their land.
