Sarawak to help ensure Malay community keeps their land in city, town centres

The Sarawak state government will initiate efforts to ensure that lands belonging to the Malay community in urban centres in the state will remain in their possession and that of their descendents.

Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg said such land had now mostly changed hands to devoid the community of valuable landed properties and investment opportunities.

"I want to help the community so that this will not happen again. While the other bumiputera communities like the Ibans, the Bidayuh have their Native Customary Right (NCR) land, the Malay community only has those land in urban and semi urban areas," he said.

He said this when performing the earth-breaking ceremony for the Hikmah Exchange Development Project, involving a cost of over RM300 million and a 22-storey high commercial, office spaces and convention centre building at Haji Taha Road here today.

The project, on a 1.47-hectare site belongs to the Yayasan Hartanah Bumiputera Sarawak (YHBS).

It will be devloped by the Permodalan Satok Berhad in collaboration with the Sarawak Islamic Religious Council, Harakah Islamiah (Hikmah), Pelita Holdings Sdn Bhd and Faradale Development Sdn. Bhd.

It is expected to be ready by October 2020.

Abang Johari said he would look for a suitable approach to help the Malay community developed their urban land in order to preserve such properties while at the same time helping them to be involved in meaningful investments.

On the Hikmah Exchange project, he said, it would be a new landmark in the city and the pride of the Malay community.

He said it would be the first smart or digital building in the state with the assistance of the Telekom Malaysia Berhad.

--BERNAMA