MIRI: A total of 835.83ha in two Native Customary Rights (NCR) land have been gazetted as Native Communal Reserve under Section 6 of the land Code.

Of the total hectarage, 6333ha are in Kampung Narum, Marudi for the Malay community and 772.55ha in Long Panai, Tutoh Apoh in Baram area, for Kayan community.

Special Functions Minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem, when handing over the certificates to the village heads, announced that currently, there are over 400 to 500 new areas waiting to be gazzetted.

“Due to the increasing number of applications, mostly from individuals, villagers must be patient and give their best cooperation to the officers of the Land and Survey Department to complete their work in time.

“Avoid quarrelling over the land because you’ll be slowing down the process if you do,” he said.

Adenan advised the people to submit their applications either through their political representatives or the local Land and Survey office.

On propaganda spread among the people, Adenan said the Government was not unduly worried because more and more people had realised that the Barisan Nasional was capable of fulfilling its promises.

Under the new NCR initiative, 22 areas are in the process of gazettement in Miri, Marudi, Bekenu, Niah and Sibuti divisions.

The NCR land gazettement will continue until the end of 10th Malaysia Plan in 2015.

(Source:  The Star, 21 June 2012)