The Federal Court has ordered both sides in a native customary land rights (NCR) dispute to make submissions on whether the plaintiffs have a legitimate claim on the disputed land in Pantu, Sri Aman, Sarawak.

Court of Appeal President Md Raus Sharif, who led the five-member panel, said the decision on the case rests on this issue, so both parties should concentrate on that matter.

Justice Md Raus told plaintiffs - tuai rumah Masa Nangkai and about 100 families represented by lawyer Dominique Ng - to show evidence to support earlier findings of the High Court and Court of Appeal that the plaintiffs do have claim on the disputed land...