By Christopher Lidom
KUCHING, May 26: Deputy Premier of Sarawak Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan has reminded those claiming Native Territorial Domain (NTD) to ensure their submitted applications meet the legal requirements as well as application guidelines.
Awang Tengah said this is to enable the issuance of Native Communal Title (NCT).
According to him, following the amendment to the State Land Code 2018, which recognises community rights over NTD, three series of comprehensive roadshows were held to explain the application procedures and issuance of NCT land title deeds for NTD areas were held in the Northern Zone, Central Zone and Southern Zone.
“Apart from that, the Land and Survey Department has also conducted engagement sessions with the local community to provide continuous exposure and understanding,” he said in his winding up speech during the Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting today.
Meanwhile, Awang Tengah, who is also Second Natural Resources and Urban Development Minister, said as of April 30 this year, approximately 1,031,712 hectares or 2,549,360 acres has been successfully measured under the Native Customary Rights (NCR) New Initiative programme.
He said an area of approximately 794,503 hectares or 1,963,216 acres has also been gazetted as Bumiputera Communal Reserve (Agriculture) under Section 6 of the State Land Code.
“As of April 30, 2022, a total of 54,072 individual lots have been successfully surveyed involving an area of 66,808 hectares or 165,082 acres which have been and will be issued with land title deeds under Section 18 of the State Land Code,” he added.
He pointed out that in order to expedite the measurement of individual lots of NCR land, land claimants must be present during the field measurement, clearly mark the boundaries of their land and avoid disputes in making claims so that the measurement runs smoothly.
“The Sarawak government is committed to ensuring the continuity of this programme and will continue to provide the necessary funds in addition to the funds received from the Federal government,” he said. — DayakDaily
