SONG: More than 120 landowners in the Song district today received Native Customary Rights (NCR) land titles, reaffirming the State Government’s commitment to recognising and securing the rights of Bumiputera communities over their ancestral land.

Held at Song Community Hall, the ceremony was officiated by Deputy Minister for Urban Planning, Land Administration and Environment, Datuk Len Talif Salleh, and witnessed by Katibas Assemblyman, Lidam Assan alongside senior officers from the Land and Survey Department Sarawak.

A total of 175 land titles under Section 18 of the Sarawak Land Code were presented to recipients from Sipan, Sesawa, Teluk Jambu, and Sungai Katibas.

These titles provide landowners with legal recognition, exemption from annual quit rent and premiums, and perpetual ownership rights.

Meanwhile, the government gazetted 22,638 hectares of communal reserve land under Section 6 of the Land Code for the areas of Beguang, Embuau-Lajan, and Katibas Hilir, involving 40 longhouse chiefs.

“Today marks a historic step for Song and Kapit. The State remains committed to recognising valid NCR claims and ensuring landowners can enjoy long-term benefits from their land,” said Lidam in his speech.

Since the introduction of the NCR New Initiative in 2010, more than 1.2 million hectares have been surveyed across Sarawak, of which 938,230 hectares have been gazetted as communal reserves.

To date, over 33,000 individual titles under Section 18 have been issued statewide.

Datuk Len highlighted that the programme, initiated under the Government Transformation Programme (GTP), was designed to provide clarity on land boundaries and protect NCR lands from encroachment.

“The government’s promise is clear: as long as the claims are genuine and supported by law, the people’s rights will be recognised. Surveys are carried out free of charge, and the titles issued under Section 18 are perpetual,” he said.

Both leaders reminded landowners to use their newly recognised land wisely for agriculture and community development rather than selling it for short-term profit.

“There are various initiatives and assistance available through the Ministry of Food Industry, Commodities and Regional Development (M-FICORD). These opportunities should be explored to generate sustainable income and uplift rural communities,” Datuk Len added.

The ceremony concluded with the presentation of souvenirs, group photography, and a tea reception. -UKASnews