KUCHING, Nov 3 2025: Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS) has expressed full support to the initiative by the federal Ministry of Housing and Local Government (KPKT) to work with the Sarawak government to allow the construction of Rumah Mesra Rakyat (RMR) (People-Friendly Homes Programme) on Native Customary Rights (NCR) land.
Sanjan Daik: This
effort is not merely about building houses but it’s about building
futures for Dayak families on their ancestral land.
Its secretary-general Sanjan Daik said the initiative is timely and relevant, as it recognises the realities faced by rural communities particularly the Dayaks who have long resided on ancestral and customary lands.
“PBDS welcomes this move as it respects the ownership and traditional use of native land by the Dayak community,” he said in a statement when commenting on a reply by the minister Nga Kor Ming in Parliament recently.
Sanjan explained that many families in rural areas do not have access to state land, but they possess NCR land inherited from their forefathers.
“Building affordable homes on these lands is both fair and practical,” he stressed.
He emphasised that clear coordination between federal and state agencies is crucial to ensure smooth implementation, particularly concerning land status verification, building plan approvals, and financing procedures.
He also urged the government to expedite the survey and recognition process of NCR land so that more rural residents can qualify for the PMR programme.
“This effort is not merely about building houses but it’s about building futures for Dayak families on their ancestral land,” he said.
He also reiterated that Sarawak’s development policies must strike a balance between physical progress and the protection of native rights, adding that PBDS stands ready to work with both the state and federal governments to design inclusive policies that are sensitive to the realities of indigenous communities.
Replying to a point raised by Puncak Borneo Member of Parliament Datuk Willie Mongin on Oct 30, Nga said his ministry was ready to discuss with the Sarawak state government to find a solution to the issue of ownership of customary land without a grant which affects the eligibility of applications under the PMR Programme.
He said he welcomed a proposal and assured that he would look into the specific cases raised by the MP.
He said he would instruct Syarikat Perumahan Negara Berhad (SPNB) to discuss with the Sabah and Sarawak governments so that this customary land matter can be managed properly and comply with existing conditions.
Nga also stressed that KPKT is committed to ensuring that all Malaysians have a place to shelter.
Willie proposed that the government provide flexibility to rural applicants in Sarawak who own customary land but do not have an official grant.
He stressed that many young people and new families are unable to own their own homes due to the constraints of the land grant conditions.
