SIBU: The government will continue its new surveying initiative for Native Customary Rights (NCR) land to guarantee the rakyat’s rights to their land. 

Deputy Premier of Sarawak, Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan said the NCR land surveying initiative is free as long as claimants can prove the validity of their land in accordance with the law.

He explained that this initiative proves the government's commitment to help the people secure rights to their land and avoid any encroachment.

"Although part of the land is used for development such as roads, telecommunications towers, or schools, the government will take over for those purposes.

"If the land in question has been measured under Section 6 or 18, or if it has not been confirmed but there is evidence that it is customary land, compensation will be paid in accordance with Chapter 81 of the Sarawak Land Code and Section 13 of the Federal Constitution,” he said. 

He spoke to officiate the presentation of communal reserve gazette documents under Section 6 of the Sarawak Land Code and land titles under Section 18 of the Sarawak Land Code for the Sibu area here, on Monday. 

According to him, since 2010, almost 1.2 million hectares or about 3 million acres of land have been successfully surveyed while more than 900,000 hectares or 2.3 million acres have been gazetted.

The Second Minister for Natural Resources and Urban Development also reminded officials, especially the Land and Survey Department (JTS), not to carry out surveying work in areas that are facing issues in court, but instead focus on areas without disputes.

However, he said, the government can carry out the surveying work if the landowner withdraws the issue in court and makes an application for survey. 

Meanwhile, 574 recipients of land titles under Section 18 of the Sarawak Land Code from the Sibu area received their respective land titles at the event.

The recipients are from Sebindang Oya, Igu Tamin, Pasai Siong, and Tebalang/ Batang Penyudah and Batang Oya which involves an area of 2,055 hectares with 768 land titles issued.

Also present were Tamin Assemblyman, Christopher Gira Sambang. - UKASnews