KUCHING, May 3: A landowner was left shocked after discovering that 3.19 acres of his land had been registered as ‘State land’ following the construction of a high-tension electricity cable tower project.
Seeking assistance, the landowner identified as Tan had turned to Sarawak Democratic Action Party (DAP) chairman Chong Chieng Jen for help in rectifying the situation.
In a statement today, Chong said that Tan is the registered proprietor of Lot 443 which contains approximately 3.2 acres.
“Sometime in 2020, Sarawak Energy Berhad acquired 0.01 acre of his land for the construction of a high-tension electricity cable tower.
“The remaining part of the 3.19 acres of his land was supposed to be issued with a new document of title with a Lot number, which is Lot 1356.
“As the 0.01 acre of his land was acquired by Sarawak Energy, it is their duty to apply to the Land and Survey Department for the issuance of the document of title to Lot 1356 in his name,” Chong asserted.
However, in April 2023, Tan’s relatives, who owned adjacent land, received a notice from Sarawak Energy requesting their attendance at a meeting for another project.
It was also then that Tan learned that the registered owner of Lot 1356 was now ‘State land’, leaving him without ownership of his land.
Chong together with Tan attended a meeting with Sarawak Energy this morning at the Kuching District Office and raised the matter, urging the utility company to rectify their records and also to expedite the issuance of the new document of title to Lot 1356 in Tan’s name.
“The acquisition of the 0.01 acre was done in the year 2020 and now that Sarawak Energy is embarking on a second project, the new document of title ought to have been issued earlier so as to give the landowner peace of mind.
“We will also follow up on the matter so that Tan will have his name reinstated in the record as soon as possible,” Chong added. — DayakDaily
