Datuk Henry Harry Jinep interacting with the land title recipients. Photo: Ramidi Subari

BAU: No resident of the state is allowed to own more than 20 acres of customary land without concrete proof, said Datuk Henry Harry Jinep.

The Tasik Biru assemblyman emphasised that customary land cultivated over generations in traditional village areas must be surveyed and demarcated by the Land and Survey Department to prevent disputes, encroachment, or third-party takeovers.

Henry then commended the honesty of the Bidayuh community in Bau, who are predominantly farmers, noting that none of them has claimed ownership of more than 100 acres of land in the area.

“The Bidayuhs take genuine land, passed down from their ancestors to their parents who cultivated it.

“No Bidayuh claims to own more than 100 acres of cultivated land.

“If anyone claims to have cultivated more than 100 acres, that would be impossible and truly miraculous,” he said during the presentation of land titles under Section 18 of the Sarawak Land Code at Sri Singai Hall today.

Using historical examples of manual labour and outdated tools like axes and machetes, Henry further stressed that it would have been implausible for someone to cultivate 100 acres of land in the past.

Meanwhile, a total of 1,172 recipients received land titles under Section 18 of the State Land Code this year as part of the individual lot surveying programme under the new Native Customary Rights (NCR) initiative in the Tasik Biru constituency.

Of these, 845 recipients from seven villages — Kampung Segong, Kampung Senibong, Kampung Tanjong Poting, Kampung Apar, Kampung Sibuluh, Kampung Atas, and Kampung Grogo — were granted titles for agricultural purposes.

The remaining recipients, from three villages — Kampung Buso, Kampung Bogag, and Kampung Skibang — received titles for traditional village land.

Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan presented the land titles under Section 18 of the Sarawak Land Code to some of the 956 recipients from seven areas in the Tasik Biru constituency.

Also in attendance were Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) Speaker Tan Sri Datuk Amar Mohamad Asfia Awang Nassar, Kuching District Land and Survey Department officer Awang Nazri Awang Saperi, and other distinguished guests.