KUCHING: The impending tabling of Bill to amend the Sarawak Land Code in the upcoming State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting, will be the litmus test to the Gabungan Party Sarawak (GPS) coalition chairman and its entire leadership.
In a press statement issued here yesterday, the Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) Youth Publicity Chief Andy Lawrence said, “Native Customary Rights land disputes have haunted the Dayak community for many years and has not achieved tangible breakthrough thus far other than creating tensions between the State government and the natives and their leaders, and even claimed the life of the people.
“Hence, GPS must tackle this problem to win back the hearts of the people, by putting a rest to the issue once and for all.”
He added that any loophole or ambiguity in the new amendment of Sarawak Land Code is akin to see the State government be labeled as not sincere to solve the problem or rather cunning, and that will portray this new administration as an ‘old wine in the new bottle’.
“Perhaps, as part of the reform, it is time for the Director of Land and Surveys Sarawak to be from the native group, which is long overdue.
“All GPS’s component party consist of natives of Sarawak, thus it is fair for all to agree to put an end to this predicament.
“The Chairman of GPS, who is also Sarawak Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi (Dr) Abang Johari Tun Openg had said that his administration will adapt to the aspirations and desires of Sarawakian, particularly on their call for transparency.
“He also assured that GPS would not be similar to Sarawak Barisan Nasional. Therefore, this is the golden opportunity for Abang Johari to prove that GPS is fair in its administration and is the platform for Sarawakian to claim back its rights. It is time to walk the talk and make this cause a reality,” he pointed out.
