Liew to look at amended Land Ordinance
Published on: Saturday, November 17, 2018
Kota Kinabalu: Law Minister Datuk VK Liew (pic) will look at the just amended State Land Ordinance that aimed to refine the definition of what constitutes State land in order to allow State rights over natural revenue tax in the continental shelf area.He said this when asked whether the move in the just-ended State Assembly sitting conflicts with the Territorial Sea Act 2012 and the Continental Shelf Act that was passed during the Usno administration in parliament. "At the moment, I don't see a conflict between the amended Sabah Land Enactment and the Territorial Sea Act. But I have to double check," he said, at the closing of the Dialogue on Law, Friday.
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The amendment to the Sabah Land Ordinance to make it clear that the continental shelf belongs to Sabah was passed by the State Assembly on Thursday. At the same time, there was a law called Territoriaf Sea Act enacted by the Parliament and the Continental Shelf Act. "I think the amendment to the Sabah Land Ordinance only talks about the continental shelf that is in Sabah, while the Territorial Sea Act is about the three nautical miles which is outside, from the mainland to the sea, which will be territorial sea within the Federal jurisdiction. So after that it will be international sea. "But I have to look into it. I have just been notified about the amended Enactment. I think I will address the concern when I get back to Parliament," he said. It was reported that the Sarawak State Government is disputing the legality of the Territorial Sea Act 2012 in respect of the restriction of the state's boundary as the same was approved without the consent of the state.
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The Sarawak Chief Minister had said that the boundary of Sarawak was 12 nautical miles from the coastline but was reduced to only three nautical miles under the Territorial Sea Act 2012.Meanwhile, Liew told participants to continue to have the same dialogue with the purpose of solving the problems that have been in Sabah for decades.
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"Our Law Affairs Unit have taken note of all the suggestions made by various Members of Parliament and state assemblymen who were present. And we will probably form a special committee to look at the various issues that have been raised."I think it is very important that I do not want to see just talks but I do want to see the solution to the issues that have been with us for so long," he said, adding that similar dialogue will also be held in Sarawak soon. The day-long dialogue, attended by MPs from Sabah and State assemblymen, were held to discuss many issues, particularly late birth registration, IMM13, illegal immigrants, etc, which have been the subject of concern among many in Sabah. "Give me about a year to look into all the issues that were raised and to come up with a plan to forward to all the respective agencies and maybe also to the State Government, especially the recommendations for solving the certain issues," said Liew. He think it is also time to set up a task force, involving all the ministries, departments and agencies concerned, specifically for Sabah to deal with all the issues raised by our YBs in the State today. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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