BINTULU : One of the main concerns in Kemena Constituency at the Moment is the Native Customary Rights (NCR) land issue, especially the misunderstanding among the people between state land and NCR land.

Assistant Minister of Public Utilities Datuk Dr Stephen Rundi Utom, Who is Kemena State Assemblyman, mentioned this on an interview last Saturday.

“So far, the perimeter survey of NCR land in the constituency has reached Labang. Even though the allocation for the survey is readily available, to date, the perimeter survey had been done only in two or three areas and could not proceed further because of land disputes, particularly regarding the size of the NCR land question,” explained Rundi.

He said the common dispute was the people’s perception that their NCR land was much larger than the actual area surveyed by the Lands and Survey Department.

 “But the Lands and Survey Department had proved otherwise and the government does not want the perimeter survey to be abandoned because of this dispute.

“Hence, the government is looking for an alternative to persuade the landowners to apply for the surrounding areas, that are not categorized as NCR land, to be converted into communal reserve land,” said Rundi.

  He explained that land used for cultivation, even after 1958, is allowed for consideration as communal reserve similar to Section 6 and Section 18 which as also applicable for NCR land later.

“Right now, the main focus (of the government) is on perimeter survey of NCR land based on topographic photographs taken in 955, and any land cultivated before 1958 is also deemed as NCR land,” he said.

Rundi pointed out that any land dispute arising from developers ‘or sub-contractors’ irresponsible actions of clearing or encroaching into NCR land would be dealt with based on the perimeter survey.

He said if any developer was found to be in wrong, the portion of NCR land being encroached would be returned to the rightful owner as in the cases encountered at Segan-Silas, Kelabat-Genaan and Sebungan.

He added that as long as a land dispute was still on no little for the land involved would be issued until the dispute was resolved.

“There are many instances whereby the landowners do not come onto direct contact with the government and communicating with the developers’ sub –contractors instead.

“In some cases, the landowners were informed by the sub-contractors that their actions to clear or develop their NCR land had been approved by the authorities,” Rundi cited as examples.

Such misleading information, made in the name of profit, had often caused the people to think that the government was taking away their land, and thus creating more confusion and misunderstanding, he said.

“We are trying to assist the people and any problem related to NCR land must be brought to the attention of the Lands and Survey Department. Likewise, the landowners must also practice give and take because they may not be right,” he added.

During the interview, Rundi commented that it was important, for the Lands and Survey officers to go to the ground to see land concerned and not to solely base their decision on topographic photographs because many of the longhouse located on the NCR land were often obscured by jungles.

He urged the people in the constituency to be understanding and have patience and bear in mind that the government had no intention to take away their land.

(Source : Sarawak Tribune, 29 August 2011)