By Nornasheila Zaidi

KUCHING: Survey work on Native Customary Rights (NCR) land will not be conducted if there is dispute among the land owners.

Minister of Special Functions Tan Sri Datuk Amar Haji Adenan Satem said the Land and Survey Department would not wait until the disputes were solved but would proceed to survey NCR areas elsewhere.

“We will not wait for the land owners to resolve their disputes but will proceed with the survey work on NCR land elsewhere,” said Adenan in reply to questions related to NCR New Initiative from Balai Ringin, Lambir, Nangka, and Engkilili State Assemblymen.

State Land and Survey Department had received seven applications from Balai Ringin

State constituency for the survey of NCR land under the NCR New Initiative.

Adenan was also replying to Snowdan Lawan (BN-Balai Ringin) who had asked the government to expedite the perimeter survey in his constituency because many NCR and owners have been waiting for too long for the perimeter survey.

“All of the applications are still under land status check processes and the Land and Survey Department is monitoring the processes,” he added.

Adenan was also replying to a question from Dr. Johnical Rayong  (BN-Engkilili) relating to the total area of NCR land that had been surveyed in his constituency.

The Minister said, so far, about 1088.9 acres of NCR land in Engkilili had been surveyed under the first phase of the NCR New Initiative.

“The land surveyed had been gazetted as Common Indigenous Reserves and for agricultural purposes under Section 6 of the State Land code through Sarawak Land Notification 75 bertarikh 12 November 2010 for the residents from Rumah Renggi ak Ungkong, Kampung Bukong Rumah Pawi Ak Lamoh, Rumah Dundang ak Mujab and Rumah Nyalau  Ak Muang,”  said Adenan, adding that the area is known as Lot 1, Block 18, Marup Land District.

On a question from Annuar Rapa’ee (BN-Nangka), Adenan replied that the Land and Survey Department had received 18 applications from Nangka constituency for perimeter survey and the applications were pending review.  Annuar had enquired on the total area of NCR land that was included for the perimeter survey in Nangka constitiuency.

Adenan, in reply to Ripin Lamat (BN-Lambir) said about 206.1 hectares of NCR land had beer surveyed and gazette as Bumiputera indigenous Reserves under Section 6 of the State Land Code through Sarawak land Notification 67 dated 29 October 2011 for agriculture purposes for the residents of Kampung Terhad in Sibu.

"The area is also known as Lot 179 to Lot 181, Block 19, Lambir Land District,” he added.

 (Source:  New Sarawak Tribune, 17 November 2011)