Release Date : 14 April 2011

I wish to clarify the claim made by Mr. Dominique Ng as reported in the Chinese dailies on the imposition of Section 47 over Kuching city centre.

I believe that Mr. Dominique Ng is referring to Section 47 gazetted under G.N. No. 92 dated 12 January 1995. This Section 47 was imposed for the purpose of Kuching Urban Renewal originally affecting 130 lots.

The Department had carried out partial acquisition over the area for the upgrading of Jalan Tabuan and beautification purpose.

Part of the area that were affected by the original said Section 47 had been released in 2005 vide G.N. No. 1098 dated 7 April 2005. For the information of the public, the government has already approved the uplifting of Section 47 over the balance lots which are no longer required for public purposes.

In fact, notice made under Section 79 of the Sarawak Land Code had been signed on 30 March 2011 and is now pending gazettal. Section 79 is a public notice to inform that land is no longer required for public purpose. In other words, the area is no longer under Section 47.

Datu Sudarsono Osman
Director of Lands and Surveys Sarawak