By Ashley Sim
KUCHING, Nov 22: Sarawak Deputy Minister for Urban Development and Natural Resources Datuk Len Talif Salleh has disclosed that approximately 1,118,851 hectares (almost 73 per cent) or 2,764,681 acres of native customary rights (NCR) land in Sarawak have been surveyed under the new NCR Initiative Measurement Programme as of Oct 31.
According to Len Talif, who is also Kuala Rajang assemblyman, approximately 867,516 hectares or 2,143,632 acres of the total NCR land surveyed as of Oct 31 this year have been gazetted as a Bumiputera Communal Reserve under Section 6 of the Sarawak Land Code (KTN).
“Meanwhile, since 2016, a total of 77,954 individual lots encompassing an area of 94,979 hectares or 234,693 acres have been successfully measured for the issuance of land title deeds under Section 18 of the Sarawak Land Code.
“Individual lots for areas gazetted under Section 6 of the Sarawak Land Code are measured based on the land claimant’s application,” he told reporters during a press conference at the Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) complex here today.
He went on to say that in order for individual NCR land lot measurement applications to be processed and implemented smoothly, land claimants must be prepared for their land to be measured by identifying and pioneering their respective land boundaries.
“In addition, they need to submit a rough sketch plan along with the name of the land claimant when submitting the application,” he added.
The Kuala Rajang assemblyman also stated that in order to ensure the smooth operation of the land measurement process, the Land and Survey Department has hired a total of 467 additional workers, costing RM40 million in salaries and other expenses.
Furthermore, Len Talif reminded NCR landowners not to sell their land once they are given the land titles.
“We always remind them (NCR landowners) not to sell their land, but instead they should develop and protect their land for future generations.
“There are many opportunities in terms of developing the land such as it could be used for carbon trading and so on,” he remarked. — DayakDaily
