Tuesday 16 October 2012

"WE ARE ALWAYS MINDFUL OF NATIVE RIGHTS"





By : ELAINE MAH

THERE is no question of the state government turning its back on the native people of Sabah. This is the message that Chief Minister Musa Aman conveyed to a crowd of 10,000 who gathered in Kampung Inobong, Penampang today.

“Bear in mind that the Barisan National (BN) government is led by native Sabahans, and issues concerning the well being of the native people of Sabah are high on our agenda,” Musa said at the ground-breaking ceremony of the Institute Latihan Mahkamah Anak Negeri (ILMAN) and the official opening of the Pagansakan Bridge, both officiated by Prime Minister Dato' Seri Najib Tun Razak.

Touching on the Native Customary Right (NCR) that has become a political issue of late, the Chief Minister disclosed that the state government would explain in detail issues concerning native customary land claims at the State Legislative Assembly seating next week.

A crowd of 10,000 turned up at Kampung Inobong, Penampang to witness the groundbreaking ceremony for the Native Court Training Institute and official opening of the Pagansakan Bridge, both officiated by Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak.

A crowd of 10,000 turned up at Kampung Inobong, Penampang to witness the groundbreaking ceremony for the Native Court Training Institute and official opening of the Pagansakan Bridge, both officiated by Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak.

He said he had taken immediate measures to defuse the NCR land claim issues. He was referring to the state government's recent directive to the Forest Department to stop the re-delineation of the forest reserve boundary in areas where the delineation had encompassed areas claimed by the local community as their native customary land.

“I stopped the Director of Forestry to ensure that customary land is not disturbed by the state government,” Musa said.

He further disclosed that some areas within forest reserves could be alienated under a communal title to those who have occupied the land for many years.

"There is no question of the government grabbing land under native customary rights," he stressed.
Turning to matters concerning development the Chief Minister told the crowd in Penampang that apart from the native court training institute and the new Pagansakan Bridge, there was also the RM300 million International Technology and Commercial Centre (ITCC) under the Sabah Development Corridor (SDC).

He told them another mega project, the Sabah International Convention Centre (SICC) estimated to cost RM550 million.

Reminding the people that Sabah was enjoying the fruit of the nation's prosperity under BN and Prime Minister Najib, he said,

"What is important is that the people of Sabah should be united in giving full support to Najib's leadership." (Insight Sabah)

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