KUCHING, August 11: The natives are unhappy with the Land and Survey Department (LSD) because its “slow work pace” in issuing land titles has affected the value of the natives’ land and deprived them of the opportunity to use the land as collateral for various purposes, including applying for bank loans.
On behalf of those affected, Minister of Education, Science and Technological Research Dato Sri Michael Manyin Jawong has urged Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg to give the LSD leadership a nudge.
The situation is especially critical from the aspect of native customary rights (NCR) land perimeter survey, said Manyin at the 7th Bidayuh Cultural Symposium 2018, which was officiated by Abang Johari.
To speed up the perimeter survey work, Dayak Bidayuh National Association (DBNA) took upon themselves to help do the survey by using the exact same type of pegs from the same supplier as LSD’s.
“As of today, we have over 100 villages that have completed the process. When LSD came to do verifications, nothing was removed or changed, meaning the survey made by DBNA are more accurate and accepted.
“Unfortunately, despite all that has been done (by DBNA), there is no further news from LSD,” lamented Manyin, who added that LSD should have just endorsed the documents prepared by DBNA and issue the land titles.
In stressing the need for LSD to be more aggressive and to have a sense of urgency in their work, Manyin told Abang Johari that it was the hope of all Bidayuhs that their NCR land is issued with titles within the next two to three years.
He said with land titles, the land would gather more value and the owners would be able to use the land titles for multiple purposes, including applying for bank loans.
“Land is valuable to the Dayaks — be they Iban, Bidayuh or Orang Ulu — but without land titles, the land is not a property,” said Mayin, adding that land titles would also ensure ownership to the land. — DayakDaily
