Abang Johari delivers his speech. Photo: Information Department.

Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg says the move reflects the state’s continued commitment to addressing Native Customary Rights (NCR) land issues amid rapid development and global changes.

“Land management, particularly NCR land, is not merely a legal matter. It involves identity, cultural heritage and the well-being of our indigenous communities,” he said when officiating at the Land and Survey (LANDAS) Summit 2026 at a hotel, here today (Feb 9).

Abang Johari said Sarawak’s approach to land governance must strike a balance between development needs and social justice, noting that true development should never marginalise the people or sacrifice ancestral heritage.

“Development must be inclusive. It should uplift the rakyat while preserving the legacy handed down by our forefathers,” he said.

Touching on urbanisation, Abang Johari said rapid growth, especially in urban and peri-urban areas, has placed increasing pressure on land management systems.

Rising demand for housing, public amenities and commercial spaces, coupled with escalating land prices and environmental stress, he said, has made systematic and integrated land-use planning more critical than ever.

“We cannot build cities without considering the well-being, safety, comfort and environmental sustainability of the people. Smart cities can only be realised through wise and forward-looking land management,” he added.

Abang Johari also highlighted climate change as a pressing reality that must be factored into land-use planning. He said floods, landslides, coastal erosion and changing weather patterns have direct implications on land utilisation and management.

“In this context, land policies and planning must incorporate climate resilience and disaster risk considerations,” he said, adding that land management strategies should support forest conservation, protection of water catchment areas, sustainable agriculture and the prudent use of natural resources.

“Environmental sustainability is no longer an option. It is a moral responsibility to future generations,” he said.