By Amanda L
KUCHING, Sept 23: More than 1.25 million hectares of Native Customary Rights (NCR) land have been measured across Sarawak as of Aug 31, with the State government now focusing on completing the process through verification, documentation, registration and title issuance.
Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said the achievement under the NCR Land Measurement Programme was significant, but should not be viewed merely as a figure.
He said every lot and boundary represented families, their history, sources of income and the future of succeeding generations.
“Therefore, the next step must be viewed as an end-to-end solution — from identifying areas, surveying and verifying boundaries, through to documentation, registration and the issuance of titles,” he said.
He said this when officiating the closing ceremony of the Sarawak Land and Survey Innovation and Integrity Day (HIITS) 2026 at Hotel Riverside Majestic here on Wednesday (Sept 23).
He said the State government remained committed to accelerating the surveying and issuance of titles for NCR land.
He also stressed that while technology could speed up the process, engagement with landowners, communities and other stakeholders remained essential.
“Technology can accelerate the process, but engagement with landowners, communities and stakeholders remains important,” he said.
He said clarity in the process and effective communication would help reduce disputes, increase confidence and ensure the rights of the people continued to be protected.
The Premier said the resolution and documentation of NCR land was one of six key areas that needed to be strengthened by the Land and Survey Department as Sarawak moved from planning towards delivery.
The other areas include future-ready land-use planning, modernising surveying and mapping, strengthening valuation functions, improving mineral governance and regulation, and making land data a form of strategic infrastructure supporting government decision-making and the digital economy.
Abang Johari said Sarawak already had strategies, plans and technologies in place, but the challenge now was to ensure these were translated into faster implementation, accurate decisions and services that delivered tangible benefits to the people.
He said the Land and Survey Department’s capacity was increasingly important as almost every development project involved land, planning, surveying or geospatial data.
“The larger our development agenda, the more important the Department’s ability to provide accurate and efficient data, expertise and services,” he said. — DayakDaily
