KABONG: Residents and community leaders of Kabong need no longer worry as the Native Customary Rights (NCR) lands across Kabong areas which have been identified would be measured and proclaimed as the Native Communal Agricultural Reserve under the Section Six of the Sarawak Land Laws.

Betong Land Settlement Officer from the Land and Survey Department (JTS), David Laeng, stated that the NCR land proclamations are an assurance to NCR land owners which would increase their income and economic welfare.

“NCR lands across Kabong areas which were already proclaimed would be measured with individual lots which are subject to their own claims. For the second step, JTS would need the cooperation from the landowners to determine their own land borders.

“These efforts would help JTS make a more accurate and detailed measurement and simplify matters regarding issuing the land ownership letters under Section 18 of the Sarawak Land Laws, he said.

Laeng made the statements during the NCR New Initiative Dialogue Ceremony held at the Kabong Fishermen’s Association Hall here yesterday.

He explained that under Section 18, ownership of land is a freehold in perpetuity and there would be no premium payment nor yearly tax charges incurred as they are all borne by the government.

“Residents of Kabong should feel grateful because the NCR lands which they have been fighting for this while are finally approved by the government even though it is still in the first step of perimeter measurements.

It would then he proclaimed as a Native Agricultural ‘Guna Sama’ Reserve under section six of the Sarawak Land Laws,” he continued.

He then stated that it is part the department’s responsibilities to implement and make government policies which would benefit the people.

Due to that, he said that the community and religious leaders’ roles are crucial to convince everyone else because this policy would benefit the NCR landowner Laeng commented this would brush aside the negative assumptions from the public who are claiming that the government would take the NCR lands, which allegations were made by irresponsible parties.

He also advised the landowners who have already sent in their application to have their lands measured, to remain patient as JTS was working hard to try to fulfil all the requests for NCR land measuring.

Meanwhile, Kabong’s Penghulu Haji Jarawi Amir stated that he was fully supporting JTS to measure the NCR lands across Kabong areas and that the individual lot measurements should be done as their final step.

We are really thankful to the government, especially the JTS because they have made huge efforts and shown the government’s commitment to help the people here by helping them obtain their wish to see their NCR lands getting measured,” he said.

Also present during the dialogue was the Saratok District Police chief representative, ASP Zamrul Ahmad Tahir, Penghulu Saini Mahli, Chairman of the Peneroka Tanah Pesaka Across Kabong Committee, Hamlit Junaidi, community leaders and other invited guests.

(Source: New Sarawak Tribune, 16 June 2014)