‘Opposition using villagers for publicity stunt’

September 10, 2015

KUCHING: Opposition party members present at the Kuching Court Complex yesterday were just using villagers to demonstrate at the hearing of the state government’s appeal on the extent of Native Customary Rights (NCR) over land relating to pemakai menoa and pulau galau as a publicity stunt.

Assistant Minister of Youth Development Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said opposition members had instigated the villagers to think that the government would take their land.

“This is not very good and unbecoming of them,” he told reporters.

“These are the things which the opposition parties should bear in mind. You should not instigate the public to come to places like court to demonstrate.”

Abdul Karim pointed out that the villagers had brought along posters, banners and even ancestral skulls.

“How is it if the decision is not in their favour? Are they going to be violent?” he questioned.

He pointed out that the Federal Court should be allowed to make its judgement freely.

“It is better for the court to make a decision. Whatever the decision to come from the Federal Court, we have to respect it. They should not put pressure,” he said.

Abdul Karim added that demonstrating in the compound of the court house was just an attempt to put pressure on the court.

“There will be this feeling of fear in the event that the decision is against the wish of those demonstrating there. So that is the reason why it is not wise for people to demonstrate at the court. If they are there just as a bystander or just to listen or to hear the decision and disperse off, then it is okay,” he said.

Abdul Karim said the state government recognises and protects NCR land.

“The state government still protects it and they still recognise your rights to customary lands.

“So if you are to see it from here, who then is fighting for whom? And this is what the BN (Barisan Nasional) government of Sarawak has been fighting for.”

Karim said the opposition’s statements on the matter have been mere political rhetoric.

“They claim that they are the only ones fighting for the natives. Fighting to make sure that people are having land, whereas it is the BN government that is fighting for the natives all this while to make sure the native lands are protected or are being surveyed (perimeter surveys),” he said.

“There is just a small group of them who are doing this instigation and those doing the demonstrations are more less the same people. You go to Miri, you see the same people. And you go Sri Aman, the same case.”