MIRI: The Land and Survey Department assures owners of native customary rights  (NCR) land that continuous efforts will be taken to get all their lands surveyed under the NCR New Initiative.

The Superintendent of Lands and Surveys Miri Division, Rozlan Putit, said the new initiative is an ongoing process and will continue until the end of the 10^th Malaysia Plan, that is 2015.

“As such, more areas in Miri will be surveyed.  The ultimate aim of the new initiative is to ensure all NCR lands in the state are surveyed and issued titles.”

“This will go a long way in protecting the ownership of native land and the rights of all native landowners in the state,” he said when addressing villagers during a dialogue for the NCR New Initiative at Kampung Kuala Suai, Niah yesterday.

He said Kampung Kuala Suai, Niah is the fifth area in Miri to be surveyed under the NCR New Initiative.

The others were Kampung Terahad, Long Aton, Rumah Boniface Bada, Rumah Emperang and Rumah Edward Chai.

Rozlan said in ensuring the implementation of the NCR New Initiative, the landowners must cooperate with the department for the survey.  He said for instance, they could help the surveyors identify the perimeter boundary of their NCR land to speed up the survey. 

“The perimeter survey will start on Monday.

“Our target is to complete perimeter survey of Kampung Kuala Suai, Niah area by early June this year.

“Hopefully the department will be able to achieve its target with assistance from the landowners,” he said.

Rozlan added that after the completion of survey work, the land would be gazetted a Native Communal Reserve under Section 6 of the Sarawak Land Code. 

He said the gazette would be kept at the Land and Survey Department as well as District Office and a copy extended to the community head.

The gazette itself is legal proof that Kampung Kuala Suai, Niah area has been surveyed and the land rightfully belongs to the community.

(Source:  The Borneo Post,  6 May 2011)