SERIAN: The Sarawak Government asserts that any land acquisition by the government is carried out fairly and in accordance with the law, including the payment of appropriate compensation based on the current value of the land.

Sarawak Deputy Premier, Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan said the government is committed to reimbursing the appropriate compensation of acquired land belonging to the people, based on the area and current market value of the land involved.

“For example, in Kampung Tangga, the acquisition of 20 hectares of land was for the purpose of constructing an electrical sub-station by Sarawak Energy Berhad (SEB).

"The compensation paid to the landowners involved amounted to RM9.8 million," he said during the Handover Ceremony of Compensation Cheques for Native Communal Reserve Land under Section 6 and Section 18 of the Sarawak Land Code (KTN) of Serian and Kuching Divisions at the Serian Conference Centre (SCC), on Wednesday.

Additionally, the Sarawak Government has long recognised the ownership of Native Customary Land (NCR) under Section 18 of the KTN, with the condition that the owner must submit sufficient evidence for verification.

Meanwhile, Datuk Amar Awang Tengah also praised the Land Documentation Project initiative implemented by the Dayak Bidayuh National Association (DBNA).

He explained that this project is regarded as beneficial to the Land and Survey Department (JTS) in speeding up the measurement process and being able to resolve NCR land disputes in terms of determining the boundaries and legal owners for the Bidayuh community area from Lundu to Serian.

“DBNA’s efforts facilitate the technical work of JTS and indirectly accelerate the recognition of ownership rights over NCR land,” he explained.

At the event, a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative was also held which saw eight cheques worth RM110,000 being handed over to three villages, namely Kampung Plaman Payang, Kampung Tanah Puteh and Kampung Sebemban.

The JTS CSR programme serves as a government initiative together with mineral licensees to assist communities directly affected by quarrying or mining activities.

Also present were Minister for Education, Innovation and Talent Development, Dato Sri Roland Sagah Wee Inn, Sarawak Deputy Minister for Transport, Datuk Dr. Jerip Susil, Deputy Minister for Urban Planning, Land Administration and Environment, Datuk Len Talif Salleh, Deputy Minister for Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development, Datuk Martin Ben, Member of Parliament for Serian, Dato Sri Richard Riot Jaem, Tebedu Assemblyman, Dr. Simon Sinang Bada, JTS Director, Datu Awang Zamhari Awang Mahmood, Sarawak Land Consolidation and Rehabilitation Authority (SALCRA) General Manager, Datu Joseph Blandoi, Serian Division Resident, Caroline Cleophas Joseph and Serian JTS Superintendent, Abdul Khalil Amit. -UKASnews