Sarawak CM: Solve definitions of native land first

Sarawak Chief Minister Abang Johari yesterday said the state government is willing to amend the state’s Land Code as a way of resolving the issue of “pemakai menua” and “pulau galau” (territorial domain).

However, he said the definition of pemakai menua and pulau galau which differed among the bumiputera communities in the state community had to be resolved first.

He said if the definition of pemakai menua and pulau galau was agreed to by all the bumiputera communities, it would make the process of amending the Sarawak Land Code easier.

"To have force of law, of course we have to amend the land code, and if the amendments are made, then we will have pemakai menua and pulau galau laws which must be used by all bumiputera groups.

"Not only one community, but all the bumiputera communities must recognise it as the law that will guide how we manage the pemakai menua and pulau galau issue. There must only be one law which must be accepted and applied by all communities,” he said.

Abang Johari was speaking at the launch of the conference of community heads on pemakai menua and pulau galau here yesterday.

Also present were Deputy Chief Ministers Douglas Uggah Embas, James Jemut Masing and Awang Tengah Ali Hasan.

The 450 participants of the two-day conference included heads of the Iban, Melayu, Orang Ulu, Bidayuh and Melanau communities.

On the conference, Abang Johari said the views of the community heads who managed at the grassroots level would help resolve the problem of pemakai menua and pulau galau.

The conference was organised by a task-force led by Uggah following a decision by the Federal Court on the legal status of the pemakai menua.

- Bernama