ANTIDOTE Civil servants in Sarawak are being compelled by their political masters to risk contempt of court when summoned as witnesses in native customary rights (NCR) land cases.

PKR electoral candidate for Hulu Rajang Abun Sui Anyit, and DAP Piasau state assemblyperson Alan Ling Sie Kiong, told Malaysiakini that Joseph Belayong Punan, the Baram District Officer, failed to attend a court hearing last week, in an NCR case filed by members of the Berawan community of Long Terawan, Mulu.