‘Taib buying time to cool off competitors’

Opposition, however, ia hopeful that Adenan Satem's appointment to the state cabinet will help address the government's perception of NCR land.

KUCHING: The opposition in Sarawak is hoping that the appointment of Adenan Satem as minster of special functions will help change the state government’s perception of issues relating to native customary rights (NCR) land.

Sarawak PKR information chief See Chee How said that currently the biggest problem is while the courts have recognised NCR land to include ‘temuda’ (farming land), ‘pendam’ (graveyards), ‘tembawai’ (previous longhouse sites), ‘pulau galau’ (communal forests), and ‘pemakai menua’ (territorial domain), the state hasn’t.

“At the moment we are winning a string of cases related to NCR land, and it is clear from court decisions that it recognises NCR land.

“The government should give full recognition to NCR land according to the natives’ perception that has been accepted by the court so that the number of cases being litigated can be reduced,” he said.

He added that Adenan, a former Land Development Minister, who has vast experience on land matters, should be able to help by looking at the number cases that have been litigated in the court at this time.

“He can advise the state cabinet especially the chief minister on these cases and find ways to reduce these cases. It will save the courts and everybody else’s time. That is important and I’m hopeful that Adenan will look into the matter,” he said.

See, who is the Batu Lintang state assemblyman, said that land matters will be one of the main issues to be discussed at the state assembly.

“It is not just for Baru Bian (state assemblyman for Ba’Kelalan), myself and Ali Biju (state assemblyman for Krian), but I believe that DAP members especially Richard Wong (state assemblyman for Bukit Assek) have expressed interest in land matters.

“Pakatan Rakyat is taking land matters very seriously,” he said.

‘Taib not prepared to leave’

He pointed out that not only the natives are affected, but the government is also taking away land belonging to the Chinese under Section 33 of the land code.

“Section 33 has similar effects to what they are doing in taking away land from the natives,” he said.

On Adenan’s appointment, See believed that the purpose for Chief Minister Taib Mahmud to name him as a minister with special functions at this time is to bring in more people.

“It is quite heated up for PBB (Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu) as to who is going to be the successor. I think Taib also wants to put in Adenan’s name as well. And there is not yet the time to name his successor.

“I’m sure he does not want to leave in three’s years’ time. So in the meantime, he wants to put as many names as possible,” he said.