A post-mortem conducted by the Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) after the April 16 state election, had identified native customary rights land (NCR) and lack of infrastructure as pertinent issues in all nine constituencies it contested, said president Dr James Masing today.

Masing, who is also Sarawak Land Development Minister, said PRS, which won eight of the nine seats contested, had sent the findings to both the state and national BN leadership.

"Interestingly, even though NCR land was the main issue in PRS areas, Chief Minister Abdul Taib was never an issue vis-à-vis in the urban areas," he told reporters after hosting the Ngiling Tikai to mark the closing of the Gawai Dayak celebrations, which was also attended by Taib and his wife Ragad Waleed Taib, at his residence in Kuching.

Also present were Deputy Chief Minister Alfred Jabu, State Housing and Urban Development Minister Abang Johari Openg, State Environment and Public Health Minister Wong Soon Koh and InformationCommunication and Culture Deputy Minister Joseph Salang.

Allegations and half-truths

Masing said most NCR land issues were based on allegations and half-truths, including accusations that perimeter surveys being done in his Baleh constituency was not completed because the land belonged to him.  

However, he clarified that such surveys on NCR land had to be halted to a certain point due to lack of funds.

As a Dayak leader, he also welcomed the holding of this year's national-level Gawai Dayak Festival open house on July 3, at the traditional Iban longhouse in Ulu Paku, Betong as it would expose national leaders to the difficulties faced by the rural people.

- Bernama