This section aims to highlight the roles played by the Land and Survey Department under the new concept of Native Customary Land (NCL) development which falls under the purview of the Ministry of Land and Rural Development. Native Customary Land (NCL) Development is a new and bold strategy aimed at bringing about changes to the rural communities through large scale land development utilizing native customary rights land as an asset. Traditionally such land had been used only as a "Pusaka" . 

"Pusaka" refers to the customary tenure in which land is held as an inheritance which can be passed from one generation to another. In this regard, native customary lands are developed into estate plantations through either of the managing agents namely the Sarawak Land Development Board (SLDB) or Land Custody and Development Authority (LCDA). 

The native customary land areas are scattered and not easily accessible, and many are without survey infrastructure. Uncertainty over boundary between native customary land and State Land is also an issue. Experience has shown that some natives abandoned their “temuda” which was later occupied by different groups and caused disputes between communities and individuals.

In the course of Settlement Operation it was found that there were too many absentee claimants. Tracing them would be too time-wasting. The vast tracts of idle native customary land needs to be brought into the mainstream of development and for this a paradigm shift is required. To survey, adjudicate and issue titles per se is only one aspect of the solution to issues on native customary land. Issuing titles will not add value to land without basic infrastructure.