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Malaysia group urges government to restore lost Malay Reserve Land
🇲🇾 Malaysia /Economy & Trade

Malaysia group urges government to restore lost Malay Reserve Land

From Utusan Malaysia · () Malay

Translated from Malay, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • A Malaysian organization urges the government to restore Malay Reserve Land (TRM) that has been lost over decades, following a recent announcement of 50 acres being gazetted.
  • The group emphasizes TRM's importance as a strategic asset for Malay and Bumiputera land ownership and socio-economic stability, not just an economic one.
  • They call for a national audit of TRM, restoration of lost status, and a long-term plan to increase TRM, suggesting a monitoring committee for effective implementation.

A Malaysian advocacy group is pressing the government to implement a comprehensive policy to restore Malay Reserve Land (TRM) that has been lost or had its status changed over recent decades. This call comes after Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced the gazetting of 50 acres of land as TRM.

MAPIM and TERAS welcome the Prime Minister's announcement, but it should not be seen as a sufficient step.

— Mohd. Azmi Abdul HamidCommenting on the government's announcement to gazette 50 acres of Malay Reserve Land.

Mohd. Azmi Abdul Hamid, president of the Malaysian Consultative Council of Islamic Organizations (MAPIM) and TERAS Pengupayaan Melayu (TERAS), welcomed the Prime Minister's announcement as a necessary step to defend constitutional rights. However, he stressed that this gazetting alone is insufficient to address the broader issue of lost TRM.

"Malay Reserve Land is not just an economic asset, but a strategic bastion to guarantee land ownership for Malays and Bumiputeras," Azmi stated. He added that it strengthens the community's socio-economic position and safeguards their heritage for future generations.

Malay Reserve Land is not just an economic asset, but a strategic bastion to guarantee land ownership for Malays and Bumiputeras.

— Mohd. Azmi Abdul HamidExplaining the significance of Malay Reserve Land beyond its economic value.

MAPIM and TERAS are urging the government to conduct a national audit of all TRM to ascertain original and current land sizes, as well as identify lands that have lost their status. They also advocate for the restoration of gazetted TRM or replacement with equivalent land, in line with legal requirements. "Any action that erodes TRM without fair replacement must cease," Azmi urged.

Any action that erodes Malay Reserve Land without fair replacement must cease.

— Mohd. Azmi Abdul HamidUrging the government to halt actions that diminish Malay Reserve Land.

Furthermore, the organizations propose the establishment of a long-term action plan to increase TRM and a monitoring committee involving state governments, legal experts, academics, and civil society to ensure transparent and effective policy implementation. They call on all state governments to treat TRM as a national agenda, transcending political interests, given the difficulty in replacing lost lands.

Preserving Malay Reserve Land means defending the rights, dignity, and future of the nation within the framework of the Federal Constitution.

— Mohd. Azmi Abdul HamidStating the ultimate importance of protecting Malay Reserve Land.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Utusan Malaysia in Malay. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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