KUCHING: The Land and Survey Department yesterday issued a clarification in response to news articles entitled “Long Atip folk fear losing 50,000 ha inherited from their ancestors” and “Villagers claim survey work done without consent” which were published in English dailies (not New Sarawak Tribune) recently.

Records from the department indicated that the ongoing perimeter surveys in Apoh, Baram, is progressing well in an area known as Long Bedian.  The survey, which started on 10 October 2011, was carried out by a team of private surveyors appointed by the department.

Survey work has never started in Long Atip as reported.

Prior to the commencement of survey work, the department had held a total of five dialogue sessions with the people of Long Bedian as well as their neighboring villages comprising Long Atip, Long Bemang and Long Wat.

During the last dialogue held on 8 October, 2011 in Long Bedian had consented for their land to be surveyed.  Long Bedian’s headman TK Usung Wan had also given the green light for the commencement of perimeter survey.

Long Bedian in Apoh, Baram is one of the areas in Miri Division that has been identified for survey under the New NCR Initiative.  Before any survey work can be carried out, the Land and Survey Department makes it a point to hold dialogues with community leaders, village heads and the landowners to obtain their consensus.

Surveyors of the Department will not persist with survey work should the people object and refuse to give permission for their land to be surveyed.

Officers from Land and Survey Department in Miri will get in touch with the relevant community leaders from Long Atip to find out their grievances and work together with them to resolve the matter.  The department will also be sending its officers to Long Atip soon to meet the people and explain the situation to them.

 (Source:  New Sarawak Tribune, 20 November 2011)