On Today Show
— Andrew Paul, Deputy Secretary General of SADIA - From Victory to Uncertainty: Kampung Merakai's Land Rights Struggle
— Maria from Lambir – Poor Roads, Not Riches: The Reality of Rural Sarawak
— [Forum: Community Voice] Ricklend, the spokesperson for PACOS (Partners of Community Organisations Sabah) – Traditional Values in Modern Times: Indigenous Forest Management in Sabah

Topik Pada Hari Ini
— Andrew Paul, Timbalan Setiausaha Agung SADIA - Dari Kemenangan ke Ketidakpastian: Perjuangan Hak Tanah Kampung Merakai
— Maria dari Lambir – Jalan Raya yang Teruk, Bukan Kekayaan: Realiti Sarawak Luar Bandar
— [Forum: Suara Komuniti] Ricklend, jurucakap PACOS – Nilai Tradisional di Zaman Moden: Pengurusan Hutan Orang Asli di Sabah

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Andrew Paul, Deputy Secretary General of SADIA
*From Victory to Uncertainty: Kampung Merakai's Land Rights Struggle*
Andrew Paul has reported that the 95-door residents of Kampung Merakai in Serian have established a blockade to defend their land rights against encroachment by the Trade Winds company. The residents demand that Trade Winds vacate their land. Paul noted that this dispute is likely to endure a prolonged court process.
Historically, before 2018, the residents successfully sued the DDT Pelita plantation company, with the court ruling in favor of Kampung Merakai. However, following the 2018 federal court decision in the Tuai Rumah Sandah case, which ruled that Dayak custom has no legal effect on Native Customary Rights (NCR) land ownership, palm oil plantation companies have perceived a renewed opportunity to reclaim previously lost cases. Consequently, Trade Winds has brought the case to court again under a different company name, aiming to leverage the 2018 ruling to secure a favorable judgment.
Paul explained that plantation companies have been emboldened by the 2018 decision and Sarawak's subsequent land law amendment, which restricts village land to only 500 hectares, with the possibility of appealing for an additional 500 hectares to the minister in charge of land. This legislative change is seen as detrimental and unfair to the Dayak community, which traditionally manages much larger areas of NCR land.
To address the persistent NCR land issues, Paul emphasized that any political party will respond to the will of the people if they unite and express their demands. He argued that if the Dayak community unites and overthrows the GPS, the subsequent ruling party would be compelled to formulate policies that reflect the Dayak's interests and wishes. Paul criticized the government's arbitrary determination of village land limits and highlighted the significant discrepancy between the imposed 500-hectare limit and the much larger traditional NCR areas, such as the average 12,000 hectares per longhouse in Baram, as cited by Harrison Ngau.
Paul's advocacy underscores the need for political unity among the Dayak community to secure fair and just land policies that respect their customary practices and rights.

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