KUCHING: Surveying and documentation of Bidayuh NCR lands would be intensified, says infrastructure and Rural Development Minister Datuk Michael Manyin.

Manyin,who is Dayak Bidayuh Nasional Association’s (DBNA) adviser, said though the Bidayuh have been cultivating their lands for a long time, without the title deeds, the rights over their own lands were often disputed.

“As such it is very important for us to survey and document our NCR lands,” he said when presenting Land Registration Extract (DBNA02) documents to more than 400 NCR landowners from Kampung Petag and Kampung Simboh in Penrissen, Off Jalan Borneo here.

The ceremony at Kampung Petag’s community hail was also attended by Tourism Deputy Minister Datuk Dr James Dawos Mamit, State Assembly Deputy Speaker Datuk Roland Sagah, Public Health Assistant Minister Dr Jerip Susil and DBNA president Datuk Ik Pahon Joyik.

Manyin said Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib gave the green light to DBNA to conduct the land documentation works during a meeting with him in July 2007.

He said the NCR land documentation would be submitted to the Land and Survey Department for verification and would make sure the department issue individual titles to the land owners.

Manyin, who is Tebedu assemblyman, said it was a necessary to get the NCR lands documented to avoid future dispute among the villagers.

Meanwhile, Pahon said the survey and land documentation, which started in 2008, would continue until 2014.

“We need documents to show that we have rights over our NCR lands. We must protect our rights over our own land,” he added.

“We (DBNA) have documented our Bidayuh culture and tradition. Now we are documenting our NCR land.

“All these are done to benefit our children and grandchildren,” he added.

Dawos said that land with titles could also be used as surety to get bank loan for business.

He also urged land owners to give their full supports to the documentation programme as it was done for their own benefits.

(Source : The Star, 22 January 2012)