The imperative of ownership recognition of the Native Customary Right Land (NCR): Understanding the needs of the Bidayuh community of Serian, Sarawak

Native lands in most parts of the world often pose crucial challenges to mainstream governance. This is mainly because land is the heart and identity of the native community and means the world to them not just in economic terms. In the case of the Bidayuh community of Serian, Sarawak the relationship between land and native identity is even unique and more complex because there seems to exist a gap between the official and the natives’interpretations of the meaning of Customary Land Ownership Right (NCR). This resulted in difficulties for the Bidayuh to obtain formal legal recognition of their customary land which further jeopardised their social, economic, cultural and political interests. This study attempted to gauge the importance of the need for such land ownership recognition among the Serian’s Bidayuhs of Kg. Kekai, Kg. Mongkos, Kg. Diang, Kg. Tong Nibong, Kg. Mentu Tapu, and Kg. Pridan. Primary data and information were obtained through focus group discussions with 53landowners and in-depth interviews with 17 informants. The study found four main areas of the Bidayuh needs, namely, social (cultural identity, spirituality, residence, customary inheritance), economic (food sources, traditional economy and commerce, competition for resources), political-legal (protection and land safety, participation and empowerment, decision-making and development), and ecological (sustainability of life, integrity of the natural environment).