By Jaythaleela K
MIRI, Nov 30: The State government lead by Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg has been committed in accelerating perimeter surveys to resolve Native Customary Right (NCR) land issues.
In stating this, Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan said the amount of NCR land surveyed since 2010 until present via the New Initiative Survey programme total more than 2.5 million acres of land, of which 800,000 acres have been gazetted.
“The State government’s policies are very much clear, (that is) we acknowledge and recognise NCR land ownership, as long as the claimants have solid proof,” he said today in Kampung Beraya Miri at the handing over of land titles under Section 18 of the Sarawak Land Code to 252 recipients from Rumah Ampik, Kampung Beraya, Kampung Nusah and Kampung Sebalik Tiris.
The establishment of the New Initiative Survey programme since 2010 reflects the Sarawak government’s efforts to acknowledge NCR land ownership, Awang Tengah pointed out.
“Why we carried out perimeter survey is to avoid any land encroachment and other issues in the future; when your land is surveyed no one can encroach into your land,” he said.
He added, land issues have been raised by certain individuals during elections to create fear among the people.
“This is what we call it as ‘politics of fear…. (why they raise the issues is) because they intend to create fear among land owners and accuse the government of grabbing people’s land,” he said.
Awang Tengah added, via various policies and the New Initiative Survey programme, it has been proven and become crystal clear that the Sarawak government is helping the rakyat.
“We accelerated the process of issuing land titles for land owners via this new programme,” he disclosed.
Thus, he called on the people of Beraya and Lambir to rally their support behind Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), in the coming State election and ensure that the incumbents for Bekenu (Datuk Rosey Yunus) and Lambir (Dr Ripin Lamat) win handsomely.
“We need a stable government to transform Sarawak into a high income State in Malaysia,” he said.
Also present at the handover were Rosey, Dr Ripin and Land and Survey Miri officer Anthony Aboi. — DayakDaily
