LAND issues will again be a key agenda of Pakatan Harapan (PH) Sarawak in the coming state election.

The focus this time around however, seems to be a push for land reforms rather than the usual crusade of trying to end the causes of the land disputes, particularly over ownership of native customary rights (NCR) land.

The opposition coalition at its meeting yesterday had agreed to form the bureau for land reforms to be headed by PKR Sarawak secretary Joshua Jabeng.

PH did not offer any details on how the bureau will work or its objectives.

Jabeng, nonetheless told The Malaysian Insight vaguely “it will be coming from a totally different angle”.

Jabeng, who unsuccessfully stood in the Iban-majority seat of Kakus in the 2016 election, said the bureau is “in the final stage of development and will release them at the right time”.

One man who had expected PKR to change their tact on land issues is PKR’s former state election director Baharuddin Mokshen.

Baharuddin said land disputes involving native owners and plantation companies practically came to an end when former chief minister Adenan Satem froze the opening of new plantations

He said PKR, already weakened when all its top leaders and elected representatives have either been sacked or abandoned the party, could struggle to look for issues in the state’s rural areas.

The meeting also affirms DAP state chief Chong Chieng Jen as the chairman of the three-party coalition with PKR’s Miri MP Dr Michael Teo filling up the vacant deputy chairman I left by Julau MP Larry Sng who switched side to give his backing to the ruling Perikatan Nasional.

Amanah’s Abang Abdul Halil Abang Naili keeps his second deputy chairman’s post.

Other key office bearers are Senator Alan Ling (secretary) DAP’s Tg Batu assemblyman Chiew Chiu Sing (treasurer), PKR’s council of elders chairman Abang Zulkifli Abang Engkeh (publicity secretary), PKR’s youth chief Saifunnizam Sam (youth chief) and Pending assemblyman Violet Yong (women chief). – March 24, 2021.