Baru unveils ‘land grabbing’ evidence

The PKR leader reveals his first evidence and will continue to do so until the Sarawak state election.

KUCHING: Sarawak PKR chief Baru Bian yesterday unveiled one evidence of the state government grabbing native customary right (NCR) land.

He chose to read it to the press at the old Council Negeri building under the watchful eyes of more than 200 police personnel.

Baru said the evidence was a High Court decision relating to the case of Agi Anak Bungkong, Beluka Anak Agi and Charlie Anak Agan.

“Here is the clear evidence of the Sarawak government grabbing NCR land from the people and we want to deliver the truth for the people of Sarawak to see,” he said, adding that he will produce the evidence one by one until election time.

Agi Anak Bungkong, Beluka Anak Agi and Charlie had sued, on behalf of themselves and those from 15 longhouses, Ladang Sawit Bintulu, Lemaga Tabung Haji and Semai Mekar Sdn Bhd which were given leases to plant oil palm on their NCR land.

The superintendent of Lands and Surveys, Bintulu division and the Sarawak government were also named as respondents.

The court declared that the plaintiffs (natives) have title and or native customary rights and or usufructuary rights over lands as delineated in the disputed area.

The two provisional leases issued by the superintendent of lands and surveys and the state government are subjected to the native title and or native customary rights lands, and the two leases are to be rectified by the superintendent of lands and surveys (the fourth defendant).

The court also ordered that the plaintiffs be given forthwith vacant possession of their NCR lands.

The court ordered damages to the plaintiffs which will be assessed by the deputy or senior assistant registrar in respect of fruit trees destroyed on the NCR land.

Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud wanted Baru to produce evidence before he could debate with him after he (Baru) challenged Taib who denied that the state government grabbed land from the natives.

“This is a clear evidence of land-grabbing,” he stressed.

“Let them respond to the evidence and let the people judge, and this is the High Court decision,” he said, pointing out that there is no time frame for the chief minister to debate with him.

But his attempt to debate with the chief minister has incurred the wrath of Taib’s cronies who not only criticised him, but also belittled him as a “nobody”.

Earlier, Baru read a passage from Adat Law of Land quoting Sir Charles Brooke, the Second Rajah of Sarawak as saying that “land is their (natives) inheritance on which their ‘daging darah’ (flesh and blood) exists, the source of their self-existence, their ‘harta pesaka’ which if once lost, no amount of money could ever recover.

“It is this cultivation of the land by themselves or by those who live in the country that is so important. Cultivation by those who are strangers who carry the value of the products out of the country to enrich shareholders is undesirable.

“Such products should be realised by the industry of the inhabitants and for their benefit. Unless this advice is followed the inhabitants will lose their birth right which will be taken away from them by strangers and speculators who will become masters and owners while they themselves the people of the soil will be thrown aside and become coolies and outcastes, ..”

Baru said: “These are the words of the Second Rajah on Aug 12, 1915 inside the building behind me. This is why I chose this place as it is symbolic and very significant. What the Rajah said is very prophetic. It is happening today.” - FMT