Set Aside Special Funds For Native Land Surveys Sarawak Govt Told

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 Kapit PKR chief Khusyairy Pangkas calls on the state government to use some of its RM40 billion reserves to fund native land surveys.
Kapit PKR chief Khusyairy Pangkas said native land surveying should be seen as a development priority. (Bernama pic)PETALING JAYA: The Sarawak government has been urged to allocate special funds for native land survey programmes, especially given the state’s substantial financial reserves
Kapit PKR chief Khusyairy Pangkas said such funding was necessary to complement the federal government’s long-standing efforts in supporting native land rights in the state.
“I propose that the Sarawak government adopt a more serious and inclusive approach in all areas of development, including the development of native customary rights (NCR) land.
“In fact, native land surveying should be seen as a development priority to ensure more inclusive land administration,” he said in a statement.
Khusyairy’s proposal is similar to one mooted by Senator Abun Sui Anyit who in 2023 called on the state government to allocate part of its RM40 billion reserves for such initiatives.
Khusyairy noted that the RM15.8 billion tabled under the Sarawak budget for 2025 made no mention of allocations for native land development.
He also said it was unfair for certain Sarawak assemblymen to accuse the federal government of failing to provide financial assistance, as land matters fell under the state’s jurisdiction.
“Blaming the federal government over funds for native land surveying is highly unjust, especially when land is a state matter. In fact, all the funding for such programmes so far have come from the federal government,” he said.
Last week, Sarawak United Peoples’ Party’s Wilfred Yap accused PKR deputy president Nurul Izzah Anwar of trying to exploit Sarawakian issues for political gain with her call for action on native customary land.
The Kota Sentosa assemblyman said Nurul Izzah’s comments were a “transparent attempt” to exploit Sarawakian issues for political mileage.
But Khusyairy pointed out that federal funding for the initiative dated back to 2010, with RM282 million channelled to Sarawak.
And under the 12th Malaysia Plan, Putrajaya allocated RM100 million, of which RM66.67 million had been disbursed. Another RM15 million is scheduled for disbursement in 2025.
He described recent criticism by certain Sarawak assemblymen as misleading and politically motivated.
“The claim that the federal government has not been helping is false. It only serves as propaganda during every election.” - FMT

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