MIRI: Sibuti MP Ahmad Lai Bujang believes the opposition will raise Native Customary Rights (NCR) land issues in Lambir and Bekenu state constituencies in the coming state election.

He said although the issues are old and endless, the opposition will always play them up as it has no other way to fish for votes.

“We noticed that they (opposition) always create NCR issues to stir anger among residents in the rural areas but the Barisan Nasional (BN) is handling the issue very well,” he said when asked to comment on the issues that the opposition would raise as the election draws nearer.

According to him, the perimeter survey carried out by the BN government under NCR Lands New Initiative is to ensure that the issue is not prolonged or manipulated by certain quarters.

“The government has taken the initiative to survey NCR land involving all Bumiputera races and the programme is being carried out continuously until 2015,” he said.

He added that last year the government spent RM20 million to survey 27 areas throughout the state which so far has covered 20,703 hectares out of 1.5 million hectares.

“Sarawak is very big and the NCR lands are scattered around. We will continue to carry out the perimeter survey until 2015 and we appeal to land owners to be patient while waiting for their turn and not be influenced by the opposition’s false promise as they are not genuine in wanting to help solve the NCR issues,” he said.

Ahmad Lai revealed that the government had set up a lab to handle NCR issues and hold seminars throughout the state to enable the people understand the objectives of NCR Lands New Initiative.

(Source : The Borneo Post, 14 March 2011)