Now that the Federal Court has brought to an end the legal dispute over these rights the PH government must step in to settle the issue. It is not really important what conclusion the Court reached as this is a political issue of the first importance and has to be dealt with by politicians, not judges.

Whatever conclusions may or may not have been reached it is beyond dispute that the native people in both Sarawak and Sabah enjoyed a wide range of customary rights which were respected and upheld by the previous colonial regimes and which the people of both States expected, as they were entitled to do, would continue in force after Malaysia.

To be fair Kuala Lumpur has not been actively involved in the erosion and actual destruction of these rights.That has been the exclusive act of BN supported governments in both States. The removal of the rights has allowed criminal elements in both States, including State Ministers, to enrich themselves at the expense of their defenceless compatriots. That could and should have stopped after the PH election victory but did not. It is to the public and lasting shame of PH that they allowed this theft of rights to continue and did nothing to restore those taken away under BN.

It is never too late to restore rights, condemn wrongdoing and compensate losers. There is enough and more than enough wealth in the pockets of Borneo politicians, hidden away overseas of course, to compensate for loss of customary rights and PH plus the MACC should be getting on with the necessary investigations and prosecutions instead of hiding behind political “alliances” which are as insincere as they are clearly risible.