MIRI: PKR Baram Information chief Dennis Along has refined the statement of Long Terawan community which has “agreed on the perimeter survey to be carried out by Land and Survey Department”.

According to him, the statement published in the newspaper on Aug 22 made by Cr Garry Hashim Wan and village chief Edward Abang, was not true.

“The statement made by them was not true. This is because we have pledged signatures from more than 400 folk of Long Terawan and Mulu, who work or migrated to Miri, and who are against the perimeter survey to be conducted.

“Furthermore, those people have failed to explain in detail regarding the benefit of the perimeter survey to the Long Terawan folk and they were also not specialists in the Sarawak land court,” he said during a press conference recently.

Following that, Dennis also questioned that if they have special power from LSD to speak about the perimeter survey issue to the local folks.

“If they certainly do not have any power to speak regarding the survey, it is better for them to stop issuing such statement, as apparently Long Terawan folk do not agree and (are) dissatisfied with the matter,” he added.

At the same time, Dennis also questioned how they could know the size of Long Terawan land of 2,070 hectare, since the land perimeter survey has yet to be carried out.

“Is it one of their hidden agenda? It is impossible for long Terawan land with the size of 2,070 hectares as Long Terawan is the biggest area at Sungai Tutoh,” he added.

Meanwhile, he said that he did not want the matter to be politicised as it is a problem of the community.

Meanwhile, in the statement published in The Borneo Post on Aug 22, Gary and Edward Abang said the majority of Long Terawan folk had given a positive response and want the Native Customary Right (NCR) land to be developed for the future.

In the statement, they also emphasised to the public and the village folks that the perimeter survey is an advantage to NCR owner as it will be gazetted by
LSD.

(Source:  The Borneo Post, 1 September 2013)