MINISTER FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND HOUSING SARAWAK PRESS STATEMENT

suppadmin | November 10, 2020

I wish to make this statement to clarify on the need to amend section 3 of the Local Authority (Amendment) Ordinance, 2020 which give native status to local authorities listed in the Schedule for all purposes under the Land Code. Today, in the Dewan Undangan Negeri, the Members of the Opposition attempted to portray that this amendment to section 3 was intended to allow the local authorities to venture into commercial businesses over native land.

This was never the intention of the Government.

Therefore, it is important for me to correct this misrepresentation made by the Members of the Opposition. In fact, the main objective of this amendment is to allow the local authorities to acquire and use native land for the purpose of exercising its duties and functions under the Ordinance such as carrying out and implement any works, projects and schemes within the jurisdiction of the Local Authorities. These include public playground, public libraries, markets, sport centre, nursery or any other public amenities as allowed by the Ordinance for the benefit of the people in those areas and of course the people of Sarawak at large.

The good intentions of the Government to bring more developments to the rural areas and providing better facilities and infrastructures should not be politicised by anyone, including the opposition. More developments to the rural areas will enable local authorities to provide better services to the rakyat.