– by Peter Sibon
KUCHING, Oct 9: The number of land disputes, especially those involving native customary rights (NCR) land, will definitely be less with the use of Sarapegs, as this device, which is used to mark boundaries, is highly accurate.
State Administrative Modernisation Unit director Dr Anthony Valentine Laiseh said the Land and Survey Department (L&S) had started using them in place of ‘belian’ pegs.
“The tip of each Sarapeg contains data of ownership of the land, the boundary, land location and even the size of the land.
“So, I’m sure it will help minimised land disputes, including over NCR land, as they can detect even when they are moved from the original place,” Anthony told reporters covering Sarawak Forestry Department (SFD)’s Awareness and Innovation Week at SFD’s Research Development and Innovation Division (RDID) office here today.
Introduced by L&S’s ‘Millenium Sabe Team’ during a Quality Control Circle (KIK) event in 2011, the Sarapeg is made of an environment-friendly thermo plastic that is low-cost, light in weight and flexible when compared to a normal peg made of ‘belian’ wood.
This award-winning innovation has won several awards, including the ‘Anugerah Ketua Setiausaha Negara’ in 2011, National Intellectual Property Award 2012, Excellence Award at the International Convention on QC Circles in Taiwan in 2013, and the Gold Award at the International Conference on Quality in Tokyo in 2014.
In line with changing times and technology, Sarapeg has been regarded as an improvement of standards for the state’s control point and boundary mark because other states are still using the conventional method made of wood or cement.
Sarapeg will also include identification or details regarding boundary marks using Radio Frequency Identification Device technology. This will facilitate perimeter survey works and the detection of boundary marks in the field.
It has obtained patents in Malaysia and Brunei and has been sold to Thailand and Australia.
Anthony, who was representing State Secretary Tan Sri Datuk Amar Mohd Morshidi Abdul Ghani to officiate at the function, revealed that Sarawak had been very successful in representing Malaysia by getting gold medals in various categories in overseas competitions.
“Next week, we will send three teams to showcase three items in Singapore, namely ‘Flood Detection’ device by Sarawak Drainage and Irrigation Department, ‘Peat Piling System’ by JKR Sarikei and ‘Clearing clogged drains’ by MBKS (Kuching South City Council),” he said.
Meanwhile, SFD director Hamden Mohamad said an Iban community at Rumah Manggat in Ulu Menyang, Batang Ai, had been successful in planting ‘gaharu’ in the conservation area for the orangutans. He hoped other communities would emulate them.
Also present at the gathering themed ‘Innovation and Creativity: Shaping our Future’ was Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Urban Development and Natural Resources Dr Wan Lizosman Wan Omar. — DayakDaily
