By Shikin Louis
BAU, June 22: Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg has cautioned Bumiputera landowners against giving up control of their Native Customary Rights (NCR) land through powers of attorney, warning that some have effectively lost ownership and later blamed the government when they no longer had land.
He cited a case where NCR land owned by natives had already slipped out of their hands through the use of a power of attorney.
“Once an irrevocable power of attorney is given, it cannot be taken back. They are just waiting for the right time.
“If they do not need the money now, there is no issue for them — they can simply wait. However, some later come to me seeking approval for land conversion in such cases.
“Jadi orang Bumiputera sikda tanah lagik, mintak lagik! Mun perintah sik berik, kita jaik! (Then Bumiputeras have no land left and ask for more. If the government does not approve it, we are the ones blamed),” he said when speaking at the opening ceremony of the Bidayuh Cultural Centre (BCC) in Bau today.
Abang Johari further said such situations were already occurring and urged Bumiputera landowners to safeguard and develop their land instead of allowing it to slip out of their hands.
“That is what is happening now. Therefore, when it comes to Bumiputera land rights, take good care of them and develop them. Don’t blame others,” he added.
The Premier also highlighted the Sarawak government’s ongoing efforts to formalise NCR land ownership through a structured land titling programme under the Sarawak Land Code.
He said NCR land rights are already provided for under Sections 6 and 18 of the Sarawak Land Code, and successive State administrations have continued efforts to strengthen the system.
According to him, the policy of issuing more structured land titles was initiated under the late former Chief Minister Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud and further enhanced by the late Pehin Sri Adenan Satem, who had previously overseen land matters.
“The objective is to provide clearer ownership so there will be no overlapping claims and disputes among heirs.
“With proper titles, landowners will know exactly where their land is located, its size and boundaries. There will be no quarrels because everyone knows which land belongs to them,” he said.
Abang Johari acknowledged that land surveying remains one of the biggest challenges in accelerating the issuance of land titles due to a shortage of qualified surveyors.
To address the issue, he said the State government has approved an additional 600 positions in the Land and Survey Department and is working with technical institutions to train more certified surveyors.
He also commended the Dayak Bidayuh National Association (DBNA) for voluntarily assisting the Land and Survey Department in land surveying efforts and thanked village chiefs for helping to identify and demarcate land boundaries.
Once the land is surveyed and verified, he said, titles can be issued to rightful owners.
Abang Johari noted that the State government has continued presenting land titles to NCR landowners through various title handover ceremonies, with more than 2,000 additional titles handed over during the latest exercise.
He further encouraged landowners to make productive use of their land through agriculture and development programmes, including those implemented by the Sarawak Land Consolidation and Rehabilitation Authority (Salcra).
“When we want to develop Sarawak, I do not blame the federal government if development is slow. What I do is solve our own problems.
“That is why today Sarawak has become a model state in Malaysia. We cannot keep blaming others. We must identify our weaknesses and improve ourselves,” he emphasised.
Among those present were Minister of Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development; Minister of Education, Innovation and Talent Development Dato Sri Roland Sagah Wee Inn; Deputy Minister of Transport (Riverine and Marine) Datuk Henry Harry Jinep; Jerip Susil; Miro Simuh; Ik Pahon Joyik; Sarawak Land and Survey Department director Datu Awang Zamhari Awang Mahmood; Sarawak Public Works Department (JKR) director Cassidy Morris; and Dayak Bidayuh National Association (DBNA) president Datu Ik Pahon Joyik. — DayakDaily
