SIBU: Land and Survey Department (LSD) hopes Native Customary Rights (NCR) landowners will give them the leeway when perimeter survey works is carried out on their land.

LSD Sibu superintendent Christina Lau said works could not be delayed as they had to complete the delineation work within a fixed period of time. 

She was pointing to those still holding strongly to their customs and tradition. 

“Like those with paddy farm, in case there are “pemali” (the dos and don’ts), we cannot stop our work just because they think it is forbidden to do so. 

“We cannot afford to be delayed by such reason,” she said, adding that cooperation from the people was very important to ensure the work can be implemented smoothly. 

According to Lau, their deadline is March where two areas under Sibu from all 47 areas in the state approved so far for this year must be surveyed. 

The two areas order Sibu are located in Ulu Sungai Salim/Sengan and Lukut in Kanowit. 

“It involves a total of 1,074 ha, of which 724ha is in Ulu Sungai Salim/Sengan.” She said the state government approved the survey work on Dec 24 last year. 

She told reporters this after a dialogue session with NCR landowners in Menyan Land District held at Rumah Marries Memilas in Ulu Sungai Salim here yesterday.

The dialogue was to explain the NCR New Initiative, method of delineation wok and border verification work as well as to gather response from people on the new initiative. 

On a related matter, she said they had surveyed three areas last year. Two were in Selangau and one in Kanowit.  She did not disclose the areas of land surveyed. 

“So far, we do not face any problems with the people.  They have been very cooperative,” she said. 

Among those present at the dialogue was Ulu Sungai Salim/Sengan area community leader Penghulu Bayang Menchoi.

(Source:  The Borneo Post, 11 January 2011)