The Kedayan community in Bekenu are happy that their NCR land controversy has finally been resolved.“We wish to express our gratitude to the Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib for his swift action in resolving the issue,” said Ketua Kampung Narawi Ariffin.
He told this to the Borneo Post after he led a group of his men to clear one of the four ancestral cemeteries in the disputed NCR land.
“It has never been our intention to go against the government in raising the issue lately. From the beginning we have never approached the Opposition to champion our cause,” said Narawi.
“We will continue to give our undivided support to the Barisan Nasional (BN) Government,” he added.
He pointed out the government acted swiftly by sending officers from the Land and Survey department to check the existence of the four cemeteries.
According to 69-year old Manap Samah the Kedayan community came from Brunei Darrusalam about 300 years ago.
He did not know the exact reason for the Kedayans to migrate from Brunei at that time but he said the original place of the Kedayans was at Kampung Uban.
From Kampung Uban, the Kedayans moved out to various places in Sarawak to as far as Kuching, Sibuti, Miri and Limbang.ENDS.
Caption: kedayan1-OUR LAND: Narawi (second from left) and his men pointing out to their land planted with oil palm trees.
Kedayan2- ANCESTRAL RESTING PLACE: Narawi (centre) at Sg Kabut, Kejapil muslim cemetery.
Kedayan3-BUSINESS MINDED: Kedayan women folks selling a variety of fruits and vegetables at Kejapil Tamu.
Kedayan4-THE PROOF: The map that shows the disputed area.
