Len Talif (third left) hands over the land title to longhouse chieftain TR Kennedy Anyau, witnessed by (from left) Lidam, Sagu and Mohd Razali.

KAPIT (Sept 21): Several longhouses and individuals here have received their land titles under the latest perimeter survey exercise carried out by the Land and Survey Department.

State Deputy Minister Natural Resources and Urban Development Datuk Len Talif Salleh presented the documents at Song Community Hall yesterday, hosted by the Kapit Land and Survey Office.

Forty titles under Section 6 of Sarawak Land Code were presented to 25 longhouses in the Beguang area covering 15,894 hectares; 10 in Katibas Hilir covering 3,983 hectares; five in Embuau/Lajan, covering 2,761 hectares.

There were also 175 individual land titles presented to 126 Native Customary Rights (NCR) land owners from the areas of Sipan/Seawa/Teluk Jambu, Song, Sungai Katibas-Nanga Mukeh, and Nanga Entuat/Nanga Banin/Nanga Makut.

“This (perimeter survey) is an ongoing process and to expedite it, the Land and Survey Department has recruited additional 361 surveyors.

“Since 2010, funds have been channelled by both the state and federal government to carry out this initiative.

“Land issues are closest to our heart, and the government takes this very seriously.

“We want to help the NCR land owners and thus, any dispute among the claimants over matters of boundary or ownership, they must resolve it before the undertaking of the survey.

“To ensure a smooth process, the government needs total support from the landowners.

“With land titles in hand, no one can encroach into your properties.

“Land is most valuable asset inherited from our forefathers. My advice is to never sell your land just for a quick gain. Please manage your land properly,” said Len Talif.

Katibas assemblyman Lidam Assan, Land and Survey Department assistant director Mohd Razali Arshad, and Kapit Land and Survey superintendent Sagu Unting were also present yesterday.