KAPIT:  An Iban community leader here, Temenggong Datuk Kenneth Kanyan, has hailed the government’s pro-active and innovative initiative to conduct the NCR (Native Customary Rights) land perimeter survey, and appealed to all the affected land owners to give their fullest support to ensure the smooth progress of the survey work. 

Describing the survey as a people friendly policy, he also expressed his gratefulness on behalf of the Iban community to the governments’ new approach towards the statues of the NCR lands.

“In this respect, we thank both the State Government under Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud and the Federal Government under Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, who announced a RM20 million allocation for the survey work last year when he visited Miri Division.  And this year, another RM60 million has been allocated for the same purpose to expedite the work,” Kanyan said in an interview here on Thursday.

“This long standing issue of requesting NCR lands to be surveyed finally materialized, and we’re now anxiously looking towards owning the delineated land’s title.  This is the best gift of the government to the people because it is considered a security and fixed asset with added value.  To the Iban, land is the most important asset.  Without land, life would be difficult for them particularly those rural folks,” he said, calling on the people to fully cooperate to support the move so as to ensure the success of the project. 

“What is more important is that with the land title, the value of the land could be increased and the land owner could start to plan for commercial activities as the land title could serve as a security for the bank when the farmer wishes to get a loan for commercial crop planting or JV (joint venture) with the entrepreneur, to generate lucrative income by cultivating rubber, pepper, oil palm or fresh water fish culture that could help to improve the livelihood of the land owner,” he said.

He appealed to all the affected land owners to fully co-operate with the Land and Survey Department (L&S), the sole government agency entrusted to carry out the survey work. The owners, said Kanyan, must settle the small petty issues among themselves over boundaries dispute (if any) so that when the authorized surveyors move in, they would be able to conduct the survey work smoothly and speedily and complete it on schedule.

He revealed that Kapit Division has the largest area of NCR reserve with some 1.1 million hectares which would eventually be surveyed in phases in the near future.

Kanyan said L&S did a good job last year when two areas were surveyed in Kapit.  He disclosed that the survey works were successfully carried out at Rumah Achan, Sungai Amang, Selirik involving 1,532.02 hectares while the second survey was at Sungai Sipang, Nanga Sawa, Song.

According to him, this year, the survey work will begin in early February when some six areas that have been identified at  Sungai Menuan, Sungai Belawai, Sungai Bawai to Sungai Mujong, Sungai Gaat (Suau and Merirai area), Kapit and Sungai Katibas, Song  will  be surveyed.

Kanyan also advised the longhouse folks to be on the alert for bogus surveyors claiming to be acting on behalf of the government, who may go around the longhouses to collect money for the survey work as well as spread rumours that only 3 acres of land would be surveyed while the rest would be taken by the government.

“Only the authorised surveyors from the L&S Department are conducting the perimeter survey. Don’t entertain any other bogus surveyors  who go around  with hidden agendas to spread rumours.  If you’re not sure of the surveyor’s identity, always check with the L&S for clarification,” he advised.

On Najib’s visit to Belaga district this weekend, Kanyan said he warmly welcomed Prime Minister’s initiative and was optimistic that the working visit will allow Najib to have a clear picture of hardship faced by those living in the rural areas.

“Hopefully, more development programmes are in the pipeline for Kapit.   We are also looking to driving from Kuching to Kapit in the near future, when the government builds the road to link Kapit to the state’s trunk road network,” he pointed out. 

Earlier that day, Kanyan attended  the dialogue sessions on Iban Marriage 1993 – Majlis Dialog Adat Iban 1993 bagi Ketua-Ketua Masyarakat/Ketua-Ketua Kaum’ and ‘NCR Perimeter Survey’ – organized by Majlis Adat Istiadat Sarawak (MAIS),  Jabatan Ketua Menteri which was held at the conference room of the Civic Centre here. 

At the dialogue session, the  Chairman of MAIS, Datu Nillie Tangai, spoke on ‘Iban Marriage and Divorce’ which included topics on monogamy (one man one wife), bride and bridegroom of Iban origin, inter-marriage, age and documentation and the new approach to customary marriage held in the longhouse to be documented for future reference. 

Meanwhile, Superintendent from Land and Survey, Alfian Bawi spoke on ‘NCR Perimeter Survey’, highlighting the scope of work of the survey, as well as how to identify the department’s surveyors and officers.  He explained that the surveyed land, once alienated, would be permanently owned by the owner, making it different from the category of ‘Leased Land’ for agriculture or commercial purposes. 

Among those present at the dialogue session were Pemanca Badi Nuawi, Pemanca David Dian, Penghulu Nalong Daga, Penghulu Engin Nyipa, Penghulu Geruna Mawan, Penghulu Nyengat Sabang, Penghulu Stewart Sawing Andol, Penghulu Jampi Rawing and Penghulu Satim Morshiden and other Tuai Rumahs and Ketua Kampungs.

(Source:  New Sarawak Tribune,  15 January 2011)