Recipients and community leaders pose for a group photo with Awang Tengah after the presentation of Section 18 land titles and Section 6 communal reserve gazettes for villages in the Mambong state constituency. — Photo by Chimon Upon

PADAWAN (May 26): Almost 1.3 million hectares (ha) of Native Customary Rights (NCR) land in Sarawak have been surveyed since 2010 under the state’s accelerated land measurement initiative, said Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan.

The Second Natural Resources and Urban Development Minister said the progress marked a sharp increase compared to previous decades, when only about 260,000 ha were surveyed over a span of more than 50 years.

“From the 1960s until 2010, we only managed to survey about 260,000 ha.

“But from 2010 until this year, not even a full 16 years, we have successfully surveyed almost 1.3 million ha, equivalent to over 3 million acres,” he said during the presentation ceremony for Section 6 gazettes and Section 18 land titles for the Mambong state constituency at Kampung Garung here on Tuesday.

He said nearly 970,000 ha had already been gazetted under Section 6 of the Sarawak Land Code, while close to 110,000 ha had been issued with individual land titles under Section 18.

Awang Tengah said the state government introduced the New NCR Land Survey Initiative in 2010 to speed up the recognition process through a two-stage approach involving perimeter surveys and individual lot measurements.

He stressed that the programme was implemented based on applications and in accordance with existing laws.

“We have always recognised NCR land as long as there is sufficient proof and it is based on the laws in place.

“We are not only recognising NCR land, but also helping to carry out the surveying works,” he said.

At the same time, he dismissed allegations circulating on social media claiming the government was neglecting NCR land issues.

“Sometimes we see all kinds of things on social media saying the government is not doing the work.

“But today, people can witness for themselves what has been achieved,” he said.

Awang Tengah added that the Sarawak government had allocated RM40 million to continue NCR land surveying efforts, compared to RM2 million received from the federal government.

He said the state also absorbed the cost of survey personnel and operations without charging landowners.

“The titles issued do not require payment for surveys, annual fees or premiums.

“The titles are permanent, for as long as there are sun and moon, unless the owners themselves decide to sell the land,” he said.

He also called on communities to cooperate during land surveys, saying delays often occurred when landowners or community leaders failed to attend boundary verification exercises.

“Sometimes notices are given three times and people still do not come.

“If boundaries overlap and people are absent, it becomes difficult to resolve the matter,” he said.

During the event, Awang Tengah presented 684 Section 18 land titles involving 517 recipients from Kampung Git, Kampung Nyiru Grait and Kampung Emperoh Garung under the New NCR Individual Lot Survey Initiative.

He also presented Section 6 communal reserve gazettes covering 1,440.3 ha for Kampung Karu and Kampung Abang.

Among those present were Deputy Minister of Transport and Mambong assemblyman Datuk Dr Jerip Susil, and community leaders.