Kota Kinabalu: Concerns have been raised over conflicting interpretations of the law on who should handle Native Customary Rights (NCR) land disputes in Sabah.
Robbin Banati, adviser and deputy chairman of the Tongod District NCR Claims Action Body (Badan Bertindak Tuntutan Tanah NCR Daerah Tongod), said such disputes should be referred to the Native Court as provided under the Sabah Land Ordinance.
He said the issue arose following remarks allegedly made by a deputy director of the Sabah Lands and Surveys Department during a departmental briefing in Tongod recently, which suggested that the Native Court should not interfere in the settlement of native customary land disputes.
According to Banati, the statement also indicated that such matters fall solely under the jurisdiction of the Assistant Collector of Land Revenue.
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