A group of Iban NCR land-owners from two longhouses in Ulu Niah in Miri Division, Sarawak have lodged a report with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption agency (MACC) alleging elements of graft and abuse of power in the alienation of their NCR land to a plantation company.

They also want the commission to probe the cancellation of a NCR joint venture involving their NCR land.

A eight-member group, led by Changgai ak Dali and accompanied by their Miri-based Orang Ulu lawyer Harrison Ngau, a former Baram MP, made the report at the MACC office in Kuching this morning.

Harrison told Malaysiakini that the lands involved was alienated without their knowledge and consent of the Ibans to BLD Resources Sdn Bhd, a joint venture between the KTS Group of Companies and Lembaga Masjid Negeri Sarawak in 2005.

On the NCR JV agreement, he said this was signed in November 1999 between the NCR land-owners and the relevant parties. The official launching was in 2001 witnessed by Deputy Chief Minister Alfred Jabu, who is also chairperson of a state-owned agency Sarawak Land Consolidation and Rehabilitation Authority (Salcra) charged with the responsibility of developing the NCR land on a joint venture basis.

Illegal assembly?

About 3,000ha of NCR land is involved under the JV agreement.

Now the case is also before the court brought against the company and the state authorities in a representative action by about 250 residents from the two Iban longhouses, Rumah Belili and Rumah Ranggong in Ulu Niah, scene of much conflict over the NCR land between investors and native land-owners.

Yesterday, when more than 20 of the Iban longhouse residents turned up for a hearing in the Kuching High Court in connection with a case filed over the dispute on the land issue, they almost got themselves arrested for an illegal assembly.

They also carried placards condemning the authorities for taking away their land.

Three FRU trucks turned up but after negotiations the crowd dispersed.

The Kuching Court High has adjourned to April 23 the hearing of a consolidated case involving the land dispute in Ulu Niah.