SARIKEI: Several areas in Sungai Ensiri, Pusa and one each in Kampung Dato Godam, Pusa and Kampung Manggut, Spaoh has been gazetted as Bumiputera Communal Reserve (NCR) under Section 6 of the State Land Code.

With the declaration, the gazetted land in Sungai Ensuri now belongs to the Iban community in Serudit, Spaoh whereas the gazeetted land in Kampung Dato Godam, Pusa and Kampung Manggut, Spaoh belongs to the Malay community in the respective villages.

Minister with Special Function in the Chief Minister’s Office Tan Sri Datuk Amar Adenan Satem presented the gazettes to the community leaders of the respective areas in a ceremony held at the Divisional Land and Survey Office here recently.

NCR landowners should understand that the main purpose of the perimeter survey was to accord recognition of ownership over NCR land, Adenan said in his speech.

As the perimeter survey was solely to benefit the NCR landowners, Adenan called for their closest co-operation to expedite the process, stressing that new NCR initiative was a sincere effort of the government to help many owners of such land throughout the state.

After the NCR land has been gazetted as native communal reserve, owners could proceed with other course of actions such as applying for survey of individual lots or enter into joint ventures with big companies to develop their land, he pointed out.

“Declaration of NCR land as Native Customary Reserve under Section 6 of the Land Code is a confirmation and statutory recognition of native ownership over the land. The rights over the land gazetted as communal reserve is administered and regulated by the natives system of personal law of the native communities concerned,” he explained.

As the gazette describes clearly the surveyed land within the declared Native Communal Reserve, the community would be able to detect and prevent any unlawful intrusion or encroachment upon their land, he added.

He also called on owners of NCR land to submit applications to have their land surveyed to the department and to make sure that their land was free from crisis and be prepared to extend their full co-operation to the department.

Among those present were a representative of the State Land and Survey director, Brahim Lumpu, Betong Resident, Datu Romie Sigan Daniel, Divisional Land and Survey Superintendent, Anthony Aboi, heads of departments and community leaders.

Declaration of NCR land as Native Customary Reserve under Section 6 of the Land Code is a confirmation and statutory recognition of native ownership over the land. The rights over the land gazetted as communal reserve is administered and regulated by the natives system of personal law of the native communities concerned.

Tan Sri Datuk Amar Adenan Satem, Minister with Special Function in the Chief Minister’s Office.

(Source: The Borneo Post, 21 January 2012)