Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah
Tan Sri Datuk Amar James Masing
KUCHING: Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah dismissed a posting in the social media that he had argued with his counterpart Tan Sri Datuk Amar James Masing over an opposition motion on native customary rights land.
He said the posting was fake news and should be stopped.
“Its a fake news, so stop it. Tan Sri Masing has also denied it,” he said yesterday.
He was approached by reporters after launching DCCI Homestay Sarawak website at Dayak Bidayuh National Association (DBNA) headquarters, here.
Facebook user ‘Joe Tawie’ in his posting claimed that the two senior Dayak leaders in the state cabinet had a ‘heated argument’ in a pre-council meeting over how the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) sh ould handle state PKR chief and Ba Kelalan assemblyman Baru Bian’s plan to table the motion during the recent State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting.
Baru during the sitting on Nov 9 sought leave to table a private member’s bill to amend the State Land Code in respect of the Dayak customary creation of land ownership on their ‘Pemakai Menoa’ (terrritorial domain) and ‘pulau galau’ (communal forest reserve).
The motion was eventually voted out.
On the Malaysian Agreement 1963 (MA63) high level special task force headed by himself, Uggah said they were in discussion with Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg on the matter.
He added that Abang Johari has also discussed the matter with the Prime Minister, stressing that an announcement would be made at an appropriate time.