By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Jan 21: About 1.2 million hectares of Native Customary Rights (NCR) land have been surveyed across Sarawak so far, with more than 900,000 hectares already gazetted following the implementation of the State government’s NCR land surveying programme introduced in 2010.
Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan said the figure marked a significant increase compared to only about 260,000 hectares of NCR land surveyed over more than 50 years prior to the introduction of the new initiative.
In a TVS report, Awang Tengah said the NCR surveying programme is a continuous effort by the Sarawak government to expedite the legal recognition and security of customary land ownership through a two-stage surveying method, beginning with perimeter surveys followed by individual lot surveys.
“The process begins with applications from landowners, after which the Land and Survey Department conducts investigations, engagement, and discussions with the affected communities, especially in areas with unclear boundaries.
“Once agreement is reached, perimeter surveying works are carried out and the land is subsequently gazetted under Section 6 of the Sarawak Land Code as proof of recognition of ownership,” he said.
He was speaking at a press conference held in conjunction with the groundbreaking ceremony for the Tellian Tengah Village Expansion Scheme Phase 1 in Mukah, as well as the presentation of Section 6 Bumiputera Communal Reserve (Agriculture) gazettes and Section 18 land titles at CENTEXS Mukah yesterday (Jan 20).
Awang Tengah explained that after the completion of perimeter surveying and gazettement, landowners may apply for individual surveys before land titles are issued under Section 18 of the Sarawak Land Code.
He stressed that the entire process of surveying and the issuance of land titles involves no cost to landowners, including survey fees, land premiums, or land taxes, as all expenses are fully borne by the State government.
“The Sarawak government has allocated more than RM40 million for the implementation of this programme, in addition to bearing annual expenses of about RM30 million, including the addition of some 467 officers to strengthen the surveying workforce.
“This programme will continue as long as there is demand, and I hope NCR landowners will take this opportunity to secure their land ownership rights,” he added.
At the ceremony, the State government handed over Section 6 Bumiputera Communal Reserve (Agriculture) gazettes covering an area of 1,024.83 hectares to 23 recipients from the Iban community in Sungai Sebakong and Batang Mukah.
In addition, Section 18 land titles were presented to 40 recipients, involving 48 land lots with a total area of 89.48 hectares in Batang Oya, Dalat.
For the Tellian Tengah Village Expansion Scheme Phase 1, a total of 168 lots were approved, with 109 lots already offered to communities in the Tellian constituency. — DayakDaily
