“A special unit has been established at the Lands and Surveys Department to look into the land use of the Natives. It has successfully surveyed 12,964 hectares as NCR (native customary rights) land.”
The Sabah Government, added Musa, also has no plans to emulate the Sarawak Government’s approach in resolving land disputes. “Our present policies are sufficient to protect and conserve the land rights of the indigenous people. Such efforts had existed in Sabah since Chartered Company rule and the British administration through the Land Ordinance 1913.”
He cited Tenom, Keningau and Tambunan as examples which had been declared as open areas to be claimed and a deadline was given to the Natives to forward their claims to the Land Office. “It was not successful.”
“The British also cancelled the declarations from Tenom and no reasons were given.”
Sarawak’s way of handling land disputes was time-consuming and could result in losses for Natives, said Musa in revisiting the suggestion.
The Chief Minister was replying to Bingkor Assemblyman Jeffrey Kitingan who suggested that state government restrictions on Native titles be relaxed to allow for other uses besides agriculture. The country lease title was open to all, pointed out Jeffrey, and allows for commercial and industrial uses.
Musa, in elaborating on the Sabah Government policy of protecting Native land rights, said that he had personally persuaded plantation companies to withdraw and return land that they had seized from the Orang Asal through various means. “They were summoned and advised against such activities.”
He was also addressing a question by Tamparuli Assemblyman Wilfred Mojilip Bumburing on whether the Sabah Government would set up a Land Tribunal.
He conceded that his approach was somewhat unorthodox but it worked since the errant firms concerned agreed to return the land that they had seized from Natives. “A land grab case in Tongod went to Court. I took the initiative to advise the company to return the land and compensate the people.”
“In the end, the company returned 1,600 acres and paid RM8 million in compensation. The Sabah Government gave the Natives concerned another 3,500 acres. The Sabah Attorney-General can confirm this case.”