Nanta (fourth left) presents the land title to one of the recipients while Jefferson (centre) looks on.

KAPIT: A total of 245 land titles issued under Section 18 of the State Land Code were handed over to 156 residents from the Sungai Ibau, Sungai Belawai and Sungai Menuan areas.

Minister of Works, Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi, said the Native Customary Rights (NCR) Land Survey programme, implemented since 2010, plays an important role in ensuring that NCR landowners receive legal ownership documents, clear boundaries demarcations and guaranteed land rights.

“As of October 31, a total of 106,467 individual lots have been successfully surveyed, covering more than 127,000 hectares of land.

“Today, we are handing over the land titles to the recipients, all of which are permanent, tax-free, without premiums and no survey costs.

“This is proof of the government’s commitment to protecting the rights of the people,” he said during the land title presentation ceremony at the Beletek State Government Complex here on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Deputy Minister in the Premier’s Department (Bumiputera Law and Customs), Datuk Jefferson Jamit Unyat, urged Kapit residents to continue cooperating with the Land and Survey Department, not only during perimeter surveys but also in the individual lot survey phase, to ensure the full benefits of this programme are realised.

He added that the programme not only guarantees land ownership rights but also increases land value and supports rural economic development.