CM: State govt determined to find best possible way to end the ambiguity on the two categories of land

Abang Johari hitting a gong to start the conference. Looking on from left are Ganie, Morshidi, Awang Tengah, Uggah and Jaul. – Photo by Muhd Rais Sanusi

KUCHING: The state government will find the best possible solution to end the issue over territorial domain (pemakai menoa – PM) and communal forest reserve (pulau galau – PG) faced by the Bumiputera community, said Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg.

In view of this, he stressed that there must be a clear and precise definition on the status of the two categories of land that is acceptable to all the ethnic groups.

He assured that under his leadership, the state government has the “obligation and moral standing” to solve the issue, which has been the wish of the late Chief Minister Pehin Sri Adenan Satem.

According to Abang Johari, he and Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah were told by Adenan to solve the issue over the ‘pemakai menoa’ and ‘pulau galau’ (PMPG) following the verdict by the Federal Court in December 2016 that PMPG had no force of law in the state.

“The government is aware that PM and PG are very close to the heart of the Bumiputera communities in the state and is becoming a great concern for them, and the government is sincere and will find the best possible solution to address the problem.

“But at the same time, we also want a clear and precise definition that is accepted by all Bumiputera communities to become a force of law,” the Chief Minister pointed out when opening the PMPG conference at Imperial Hotel here yesterday.

The conference was attended by 368 community leaders from across the state, representing the various ethnic groups and Malay community.

Abang Johari hoped that the conference would come up with suitable recommendations pertaining to PMPG for the government to study and consider.

Adding that the government was willing to amend the Sarawak Land Code on the two categories of land, he stressed that there must be a consensus among all the affected parties for the amendment to become a force of law.

“Leaders in Barisan Nasional (BN) are willing to listen pertaining to PM and PG, and if necessary to amend the law (Sarawak Land Code) and we are sincere about this,” he asserted, adding that there must be a proper law on land to attract investors.

Uggah, who is also chairman of NCR Land Task Force, said the issue over PGPM affected both the natives and Malay community.

He pointed out that the government was taking a political channel to tackle the problem.

During the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting in November last year, Uggah said the amendment to the Land Code relating to PM and PG should be ready for tabling during the DUN sitting in May this year.

Deputy Chief Ministers Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr James Masing and Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan, State Secretary Tan Sri Datuk Amar Mohamad Morshidi Abdul Ghani, Deputy State Secretary Datu Jaul Samion and Majlis Adat Istiadat president Datu Ganie Ugay were present.