KUCHING: Sarawakians are urged not to fall victim to the lies of the opposition on the issue of Native Customary Rights (NCR) land perimeter survey.
Pakan assemblyman Tan Sri William Mawan Ikom said one of the many accusations towards the state government was on the misleading truth that the government will be acquiring the land of Sarawakians for development purposes by gazetting the land under Section 6.
“Land issue is very subsistable for people to manipulate and over-politicise. Even the opposition parties find it very easy for them to pick and lump something, so as to say that lands gazetted under Section 6 are confiscation of NCR lands.
“These different perceptions of NCR issue are just for short-term political advantage, which I think should not be used as a political tool.
“Because at the end of the day, the landowners will lose,” he said in an exclusive interview with host Dr Jeniri Amir broadcasted on TVS’s Twenty30 programme on Monday night.
He explained that if the people just continue to have the mountains and rivers the way it is, towards the end later on, when the things have been sorted out, it may not belonged to them the way they thought it should be.
“It has to be sorted out using the criteria and perimeters that have already been laid out by the government.
“Otherwise, it will lead to quarrels among family members or neighbours in the future because it will be difficult to ascertain the lands without proper documentation of boundaries,” he clarified.
He also mentioned that before the landowners engage on this land exercise, a lot of money is needed.
“So we are fortunate that the federal and state governments are allocating some funds for the NCR land perimeter survey.
“The moment you resist for your land to be surveyed just because you are influenced by the lies of the opposition, you lose.
“So I think there is no other option except for the people to put their trust on the government. The government is the last person/organisation/entity that ever cheats the people,” he added.
