By Jane Moh - reporters@theborneopost.com

SIBU: A total of 1,409 ha of Native Customary Rights (NCR) land in Kanowit, Stapang and Selangau have been gazetted as Native Communal (Agriculture) Reserve.

Minister of Special Functions Tan Sri Datuk Amar Adenan Satem presented land titles to 17 longhouse heads at the Land and Survey Department here yesterday.

Adenan called on NCR land owners to cooperate with the department to have their land surveyed.

He pointed out that once the NCR land has been gazetted as Native Communal Reserve under Section 6 of the Land Code, the land would go to the rightful claimants.

“Land titles will be given to you, and when you have the land title, nobody can take the land from you,” he said. He also urged the department to speed up their perimeter survey work.

Meanwhile, a total of 9,127.60 ha in nine areas have been surveyed by the Land and Survey Department Sibu Division from Sept 2010 until last month.

From that, 2,667 ha in five areas have been gazetted under Section 6 of the Land Code.

Land and Survey Department Sibu superintendent Peggy Ronin Edin said the department has come up with various initiatives to encourage natives to have their land surveyed including dialogues with longhouse folk.

Among those present during the land title presentation were Tamin assemblyman Joseph Mauh Ikeh, Land and Survey state assistant director Ibrahim Lumpu, Sibu Resident Sim Kok Kee and Nangka assemblyman Dr Annuar Rapaee.

 (Source:  The Borneo Post, 5 October 2012)