By Karen Bong
BETONG, June 5: The Sarawak government has approved the conversion of land previously issued with Jubilee Occupation Ticket (JOT) during the British colonial era into Native Customary Rights (NCR) land with a perpetuity title.
Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas expressed gratitude to Premier of Sarawak Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg for consenting to this status change.
“Many have renewed their (land) titles under Section 13 of the Sarawak Land Code. The Premier has also agreed to our appeal for this land to be included in the perimeter survey under Section 6, recognised as NCR, granted perpetuity titles, and exempted from premium fees.
“Thank you as this decision means a lot to the people. This is a big thing for us in Sarawak. Before this approval, land title holders were required to pay over RM20,000 in premiums,” he said when speaking at the ‘Ngabang Gawai to Betong Division’ event officiated at by Abang Johari at Tan Sri Datuk Amar Stephen Kalong Ningkan Sports Hall today.
The JOT is a pre-Sarawak Land Code title and was issued during the colonial government era to those who agreed to plant rubber.
Uggah, who is also Bukit Saban assemblyman, urged the Dayak community to remain united and take advantage of opportunities to improve their livelihoods while contributing to Sarawak’s development.
“The Premier has allocated RM1.5 billion for various development (projects) under BDDA (Bintulu Division Development Agency).
“Therefore, we must work hard together. With collective effort, nothing is beyond our reach. With all the assistance and subsidies provided, you need to work for it like planting the crops, rearing the chickens, and catching the fish. I am sure it will raise your income and ensure that Betong becomes a high income division by 2030,” he said.
Uggah also emphasised the importance of Dayaks prioritising their children’s education, following his appeal to the government to consider establishing a Sarawak-owned international school in Betong Division.
Abang Johari’s wife Puan Sri Juma’ani Tun Tuanku Bujang, Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, Minister of Women, Early Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah, Minister of Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom, Deputy Minister of Youth and Sport Development Dato Gerald Rentap Jabu, and former Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Alfred Jabu Numpang were among the distinguished guests present. — DayakDaily
