By Johnson K  Saai

KUCHING:  Members of the village committee from Long Bemang in Baram took the trouble to travel all the way here just to hear from the horse’s mouth regarding the status of their NCR land.

The committee members, led by their headman Ding Anyi, accompanied by Baram MP Datuk Jacob Dungau Sagan and Telang Usan assemblyman Dennis Ngau, paid a courtesy call to Minister of Special Function Tan Sri Datuk Amar Adenan Satem at his office in the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) complex recently.

Speaking to reporters after the courtesy call, Dungau, who is International Trade and Industry Minister, said the landowners from Long Bemang, along Sungai Apoh in Baram had decided to meet Adenan to seek the latter’s advice on matters relating to their NCR.

“They told  Tan Sri Adenan about the possible problems they would face following the perimeter survey under the NCR new initiative.

“They said that in 1958 there were only 18 families in Long Bemang but now there 250 doors with a total population of about 3,400 people,” he revealed.

He said what really bothered the villagers  was the land to be surveyed by the government was based on the land cleared and cultivated before 1958.

“However, after they received an explanation and advice from the minister they seemed to be happy and now less worried.

“This is because Tan Sri Adenan  told them to survey the approved parcel first and then decide how they should go about with those (parcels of land) that they have cultivated but is presently outside the demarked area.  So they are clear with it now,” Dungau said.

Meanwhile, Dennis said he was happy that the Long Bemang landowners had preferred to seek advice from the minister rather than resorting to taking the matter to court.

“At least after meeting personally with Tan Sri Adenan they know that the fear by many NCR land owners that the government is planning to take those lands that are outside the demarked area to be surveyed by the Land and Survey Department is completely untrue,” he said.

“Therefore, he said, the landowners should provide their full cooperation to the surveyors carrying out the perimeter survey on their NCR land.

He said for them to protest of challenging the authorities would only delay the whole process that will also not benefit anyone.

(Source: The Borneo Post,  22 November 2011)