KUCHING, Oct 20: Six areas in Kapit have received their communal reserve gazette under Section 6 of the Sarawak Land Code from the Sarawak government today.
The areas involved are Sungai Merukin, Nanga Mujong; Rumah Anchi, Nanga Sepajie, Sungai Majau; Rumah Tungku, Sungai Sebila, Sungai Gaat; Sungai Setapang, Gaat; Sungai Puro, Sungai Gaat and Nanga Sedugau, Sungai Gaat.
In a ceremony to present the land titles today, Kapit incumbent Dato Sri Alexander Nanta Linggi informed the community that since the introduction of the New Native Customary Rights (NCR) Land Survey Initiative in 2010 until Sept 30 this year, the Sarawak Land and Survey Department had successfully surveyed over 1.054 million hectares (or 2.6 million acres) of land in Sarawak.
“Of the amount, 807,603 hectares or 1.99 million acres have already been gazetted.
“The effort implemented by the Sarawak government is not a wasted initiative,” he said at the ceremony which also saw the presentation of compensation for areas affected by the Mara Professional College construction project at Kapit Division Government Complex.
After the issuance of land titles under Section 6, Nanta said the next step will involve the perimeter survey of individual lots for the issuance of land titles under Section 19 of the Sarawak Land Code.
“Efforts are ongoing and in full swing. This programme is implemented to cover areas and divisions throughout the State comprising all Bumiputeras with rights to customary land.
“The second stage process can be carried out smoothly if the landowners can provide sufficient, authentic, and legal proof of ownership of their NCR land area,” he reminded, adding that surveys for individual lots are carried out based on approved applications and landowners’ willingness to participate.
As of Sept 30, he revealed that a total of 57,582 individual lots have been surveyed involving an area of 72,582 hectares (179,354 acres). Of that, as many as 23,631 lots have been issued with land titles under Section 18 involving a size of 35,999 hectares (88,955 acres).
In addition, Nanta explained that a dialogue session with claimants will also be held to gather information and feedback as well as to obtain consent and support from claimants before the actual survey work on the field starts.
With that, he emphasised that landowners must collaborate closely on all matters with the Land and Survey Department as well as among village and longhouse chieftains and community leaders to ensure the smooth process of survey works.
On the compensation to acquire land for the construction of a college project in Kapit, Nanta presented 27 cheques totalling RM931,549.30 to 18 recipients.
Hulu Rejang incumbent Datuk Wilson Ugak Kumbong, Pelagus assemblyman Wilson Nyabong Ijang and Katibas assemblyman Lidam Assam were among those present. — DayakDaily
