Customary Land Ownership Rights Need: Land Change Model Application

Similar to the indigenous peoples in other countries, the Bidayuh community in Serian, Sarawak are relaying totally on the natural resources in practicing the traditional way of life. The relationship between the community and the customary land is a unique and complex relationship. This is because land is the heart and the identity of the Bidayuh community, it is very meaningful to their lives and it is not purely based on economy. Therefore, the rights of the customary land need to be protected in ensuring that all the needs related to their daily life is not denied. However, the absence of the customary land ownership rights has apparently affected the social, economic, cultural and political rights and consequently affected the well-being of the Bidayuh community. Accordingly, guided by the land change model with the driving force and actors, the approach has been able to unravel the communities needs on the recognition of the customary land ownership through the world view of the Bidayuh community. The data was collected using the qualitative methodology involving six villages in Serian, Sarawak. The primary data and information were obtained through the focus group discussions and in-depth interviews with the customary land owners and the highest administrators at the local level. The study results found that the need of the communities on the recognition of the customary land ownership is divided into four driving forces consisting of the social (pride, family values, symbols of hard work, community integration), economic (subsistence and commercial economy, competition for resources, development programme, economic conflicts, land acquisition), political (ownership, participation and empowerment, power holding) and ecological (survival, protection and the natural environment). The existence of various driving forces encouraged the communities to obtain a clearer customary land rights ownerships. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2015.v6n4s3p9