KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) deputy president Datuk Eric Majimbun said the statement by the director of Land and Survey that there was no more NCR land after 1930 is tantamount to ignoring the rights of our Sabah natives, ‘son of the soil’ and an attempt to deprive the natives of their rights.
“Does he also mean that cases in which the Court of Law have ruled in favour of NCR claims by natives on their land are null and void?” Majimbun questioned.
Eric Majimbun, who is also Sepanggar member of parliament said such statement should come from the BN state government instead of the director of Land and Survey who is only a civil servant.
“The whole purpose of why the British Company enforced laws on Native Customary Rights (NCR) was to protect and help our natives who are underprivileged in various aspects.
“It is sad to see that land grabs are happening almost everyday in the state while claims on NCR and years of application by natives are ignored but instead granted to big companies in the name of development by the government.
“Cases such as these have happened in Serudung, Merotai in Tawau, Sukau in Sandakan, Kg Mapat Kanibongan in Pitas, Tandek and Nabawan; the government is suppressing and ignoring our natives’ rights,” Majimbun stressed.