By Jacob Achoi
BAU, Sept 19: Some 117 landowners, involving 132 titles from Kpg Bobak Sajong, Kpg Tanjong Poting and Kpg Sudoh in Singai area here, received their land titles today.
The titles are under Section 18 of Sarawak Land Code and presented by Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan at Kpg Tanjong Poting multipurpose hall.
Awang Tengah said surveying Native Customary Rights (NCR) land was an ongoing process, having started since the 1960’s.
“Survey NCR land under the new initiative is an ongoing process by the state government under Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS).
“And for this cause, the state government has allocated RM40 million this year, while the staff for Land and Survey Department will be increased by over 400 that will incur extra cost of about RM30 million a year,” Awang Tengah, who is also Minister of Urban Development and Second Minister of Natural Resources, said today at the ceremony.
He pointed out that the new initiative, which comes in two phases, first under Section 6 (perimeter survey) followed by Section 18 for individual lots, was both effective and efficient.
Since the new initiative was introduced in 2010, a total of 942,840 hectares has been surveyed under section 6, while 753,456 hectares had been gazetted.
The acreage was bigger, compared to the previous one, which went directly under Section 18, he said.
Under the previous initiative, which was for a spin of over 50 years, only 260,000 hectares were surveyed up to 2010, he added.
Awang Tengah, who is also Minister of International Trade and Industry, Industrial Terminal and Entrepreneur Development, urged the people not to listen to instigation by certain quarters that surveying land under section 6 was a government approach to take away the people’s land.
“Only GPS government can protect the rights of the people and we will continue to do so, including the rights under the Malaysia Agreement 1963,” Awang Tengah stressed.
At a brief press conference later, Awang Tengah said Kpg Bobak in Singai area has completed the perimeter survey and in the process of surveying under section 18.
He also said three villages-Kpg Apar, Kpg Bobak, Kog Sibuluh, including Kpg Bobak was in the process of surveying under section 18.
Tasik Biru assemblyman Datuk Henry Harry Jinep, who was present at the ceremony, said today’s event was the sixth time in Tasik Biru area.
He said the first one was in 2018, in January, October and December last year, and in Feb this year.
“Since becoming the elected representative in the area ((Tasik Biru), a total of 2,466 land titles under section 18 has been issued, and for Singai area alone, 1,296 section 18 land titles,” he said.
Present was Land and Survey director Abdullah Julaihi, among others.-DayakDaily
