Why is Nurul Izzah Anwar only now raising NCR land issues?

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Nurul Izzah Anwar's Engagement on NCR Land Issues Questioned for Timing

Rights activist Peter John Jaban has questioned the timing of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) deputy president Nurul Izzah Anwar's recent statements on Sarawak's Native Customary Rights (NCR) lands, suggesting that the issues she is now highlighting have persisted for decades without significant federal attention. Jaban pointed out that NCR landowners have historically faced these challenges in isolation, often lacking adequate legal recourse and media coverage, and questioned the delayed federal focus on these long-standing concerns.
Historical Context of NCR Land Struggles

For many years, Native Customary Rights (NCR) landowners in Sarawak have been engaged in a solitary battle to assert their land rights. This struggle has often taken place in various arenas, including courtrooms and remote rural areas, frequently without substantial legal assistance or widespread media dissemination of their plight. Jaban highlighted that the federal government's attention to these issues appears to have been minimal during these prolonged periods of advocacy by the affected communities.
Concerns Regarding Perimeter Surveys and Land Title Conversion

The implementation of the perimeter survey programme, initiated in 2010 under Section 6 of the Sarawak Land Code, has been a focal point of concern for civil society groups, legal professionals, and indigenous leaders. Questions have been raised regarding the transparency and execution of this programme, as well as its potential consequences. A significant apprehension involves the eventual transformation of NCR land into leasehold titles, a process that activists like Jaban claim can strip these lands of their inherent customary protections.
Call for Meaningful Engagement and Federal Influence

Jaban urged Nurul Izzah Anwar to move beyond public statements and engage directly with the affected NCR landowners and relevant civil society organisations. He suggested that her influence at the federal level could be instrumental in amplifying the realities and challenges that local communities have been striving to bring to national attention. Without such direct engagement and a clear commitment to reform, Jaban cautioned that her expressed concerns might be perceived as superficial rather than a genuine effort to provide assistance.

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Why is Nurul Izzah Anwar only now raising NCR land issues?

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