KUCHING: The issue of Malay communal land brought up by Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) supreme council member, Pandi Suhaili was not intended to question the credibility of the state government leadership under Datuk Patinggi Dr Abdul Rahman Johari Tun Openg.
Sarawak Malays Rights Group (Baham) chairman, Dr Sanib Said in responding to Pandi’s concern, claimed that 90 per cent of Sarawak Malays do not own any communal land and their claim on such land should not be taken lightly.
“The issue became hotter after the Dayak community rights over Pemakai Menoa Pulau Galau (PMPG) are recognised and they just happened to take place under this new leadership,” he explained.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with The Borneo Post at SCMF office at Jalan Rodway, Sanib said that PMPG issue had awakened the Malays on land ownership issues because to the Malays community land come under full control of the government, Sanib pointed.
“The Malays knew they are in trouble and this issue is very serious to the Malays because 90 per cent of Sarawak Malays are landless.
Sanib said the Malays, who make up about 25 per cent of Sarawak population totalling about 600,000 people, are living in urban and sub-urban areas and are being pushed out of their land by the rapid development currently taking place.
“Unlike the Dayak issue of PMPG over land ownership, the Malays are facing landlessness issue.
“The scenario is very different, Dayaks are battling commercialisation of agriculture that spread across the once idle deep in the interior Native Customary Rights (NCR) land.
“Whereas the Malays are living in the city and having to give way to urbanisation.
“Places like Padungan (Kuching), Mendu road (Kuching), Kampung Datuk (Sibu), Kampung Nyabor (Sibu), Kampung Dagang (Bintulu) Miri, Sarikei and all other smaller towns were Malays villages,” he said.
Sanib insisted that the Malays’ obedience and loyalty to the government, at times were abused by certain authorities that have chosen not to do anything to solve the community’s problem.
“Elected representative must be proactive – the people being quiet do not mean they are not duty-bound to solve their problems,” he said.
Sanib said based on his rough estimate, land ownership is not an issue among the Dayak communities as each of them now have easily around 1 hectare to their name after the recognition of NCR lands and PMPG, whereas 90% of Malays have nothing at all.
When asked what the government should do, Sanib was pleased to note that Chief Minister and Sarawak government recognised the issue after the matter was brought up by Baham.
“They have agreed to look into the needs based on two aspects – individually the community request for village extension programme has been acknowledged, while for communal land issue – the government have agreed to allow Malays to open Communal Farm (Ladang Berkelompok),” he said.
Sanib said Baham meets every month now, to discuss issues and follow up on the research works by their affiliate bodies before submitting their proposals to Sarawak government.
“Research to identify suitable location for new villages have been completed.
“We are finalising our application now starting with Kuching and we are optimistic that the official application will be submitted to Sarawak government within the next two months,” he said.
Sanib, however, admitted that Sarawak government is also facing a dilemma in opening up new village extension scheme due to the rampant abuse by the land lot receivers in the past.
“One must remember, these lands will be in the town area, have very good market value. Some people apply and then sell them for quick money and worse to the non-Malays, creating more problems.
“However, this problem is not an excuse to stop the village extension.
“Any problem must be solved,” he said.
To effectively solve the problem among Malays community, Sanib suggested Land Custody and Development Authority (LCDA) to manage their land in urban area.
Sanib hoped the Sarawak government will view the Sarawak Malay land issue with more urgency because certain group have successfully turn the issue around, to scare the Malays into submission, especially after the PMPG issue.
“PMPG and Malays land issues are totally different but if the Sarawak government is not taking serious action, the issue will be used against them,” Sanib concluded.
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