By Shikin Louis
ASAJAYA, April 21: The Sarawak government has agreed to acquire four privately-owned lots in Kampung Tambirat, Asajaya, to resolve a longstanding land encroachment dispute involving dozens of homes and a surau constructed on the land without the registered owner’s consent.
Sarawak Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the case, which is currently before the court, involves individuals who have occupied the private land for decades without formal ownership.
Due to the matter’s ongoing legal status, he declined to elaborate on specific details but confirmed that the State would proceed with acquiring the affected land and compensating the rightful landowners.
“One of the lots in question, which has 10 houses and a surau, is part of a larger area involving four separate lots.
“Altogether, we estimate around 70 homes have been constructed across these parcels,” he told reporters from DayakDaily and TVS after attending the presentation of land titles to Kampung Moyan Laut landowners in Asajaya, Samarahan today.
Abdul Karim, who also serves as the Minister of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development and the Asajaya assemblyman, said the State’s decision aims to facilitate a proper settlement process for current residents, many of whom have lived on the land for nearly five decades.
“Once the acquisition is completed, the Sarawak Land and Survey Department will redraw the boundaries, and a decision will be made on whether residents can remain in place with formal land titles, or be relocated under the newly approved village expansion scheme for Kampung Tambirat.
“These lots will be reclassified as residential kampung lots, similar to other village extension schemes. Each lot will typically range from 10 to 15 points in size and will not be designated for agricultural use,” he added.
The issue came to light when a registered landowner discovered in March 2023 that 10 homes and a surau had been built on his 1.901-hectare plot in Asajaya without his knowledge or permission.
He had purchased the land—classified as mixed zone land—in 2014 and subsequently lodged a police report on May 2, 2023.
While some initially believed the matter involved overlapping land claims, Abdul Karim clarified that the encroachment likely stemmed from informal permission granted by the original landowner many years ago, when the land held little commercial value.
“At the time, land could be bought for RM1,000 to RM2,000, and there was minimal development interest.
“The original landowner, who was also from the area, may have allowed villagers to settle on the land without anticipating future complications. But as land prices rose—now reaching RM100,000 to RM200,000—perspectives among heirs and stakeholders have shifted,” he said.
The State government hopes its intervention will lead to a fair and lasting resolution for both the landowners and long-time residents, Abdul Karim emphasised. – DayakDaily
