BETONG, Nov 19: The Land and Survey Department has successfully done perimeter surveys for about 952,905 hectares (or 2.354 million acres) Native Customary Rights (NCR) land from 2010 until now.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan emphasised that out of the size of land surveyed, 753,456 hectares (or 1.8 million acres) have been gazetted.
“In the last 50 years between 1960 and 2010, the output using the old survey method was not very encouraging with only 260,000 hectares (or 642,460 acres) NCR land successfully surveyed.
“On average, only 5,200 hectares of NCR land can be surveyed in one year period,” he said in stressing the difference in the output of survey through the New Initiative for NCR Land Survey Programme.
Awang Tengah highlighted this at the ceremony to present compensation cheques and land titles under Section 18 of Sarawak Land Code for Kapit Division at Belaga community hall here.
For individual lots survey for issuance of land title under Section 18 of the Sarawak Land Code, he revealed that 37,039 lots have been successfully surveyed involving 46,113 hectares (or 113,949 acres) of land.
The programme, he added, was very efficient and important in properly determining the NCR land boundaries as well as registration in the land registry and the Bumiputera Communal Reserve Gazette under Section 6 of the Sarawak Land Code issued.
Perimeter survey and gazetting under Section 6, he continued, was only the first stage which will be followed with individual lot survey and the issuance of land titles under Section 18 of the Sarawak Land Code.
“In the second stage, surveys for individual lots are based on applications which have been approved provided that perimeter survey has been done in the area and gazetted under Section 6.
“A dialogue session will be held with relevant NCR landowners to communicate information and get feedback including agreement and support before works on the survey can commence on the ground,” he said.
For disputed cases still on trial in court, Awang Tengah who is also Second Minister of Urban Development and Resources, added that survey work will not be carried out unless the case has been resolved or withdrawn by those involved.
However, he reminded those who wanted to rejoin the new initiative survey programme will have to submit new applications later.
To ensure survey for individual lots can be implemented efficiently, Awang Tengah urged landowners to give full cooperation to the Land and Survey Department in identifying the land boundaries by making clear lines, free from any boundary disputes and claims as well as be present during a survey conducted.
Meanwhile, the ceremony today witnessed the handing over 62 land titles to 55 recipients for Batang Rajang, Balui Belaga areas.
With the land titles, he emphasised that it will prove a clearer demarcation and no one can dispute the ownership over the lands.
“There are many privileges with the land titles under Section 18. So long as there are stars and moon, ownership of the land is perpetual, no need to pay for any land premium and other fees involved,” he said.
The presentation of the land title today, he added, demonstrated clear support and confidence given by the people in the NCR land survey programmes under a new initiative implemented by the state government.
“If our intention is good and with proper planning, the results will satisfy everyone,” he said.
Assistant Minister of Utilities (Rural Electricity) and Belaga assemblyman Datuk Liwan Lagang was present. -DayakDaily
Awang Tengah (third left) presenting the compensation cheque to a recipient. Also seen is Liwan (second right).
