Boundary disputes slow Bidayuh NCR land documentation, says Martin Ben

SERIAN (March 23): Boundary disputes among family members have been identified as the main obstacle slowing the documentation and surveying of Bidayuh Native Customary Rights (NCR) land, said Datuk Martin Ben.

The Deputy Minister of Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development and Kedup assemblyman said disagreements over even small portions of land—sometimes as little as one or two metres—have made it difficult for authorities to proceed with surveys.

“Most disputes are normally between family members. That is the most difficult issue for Dayak Bidayuh National Association (DBNA) to resolve,” he told reporters after officiating the Briefing and Dialogue Session on the Bidayuh Native Customary Land Documentation Project held at DBNA Serian on Monday.

He added that the situation is further complicated when some landowners refuse to attend sessions to identify boundaries due to unresolved disagreements.

“Some do not turn up to identify where is my boundary and his boundary because they do not agree. So, that is the difficult part,” he said.

Martin noted that such issues have hindered efforts to survey entire areas, despite the programme having been ongoing for nearly two decades.

He revealed that in the Serian district, slightly over 50 per cent or 113 villages, have completed the documentation process.

However, participation in the Tebedu district remains lower, with only about 30 per cent of villages having submitted applications for the DBNA to carry out land documentation.

He explained that the documentation initiative aims to eventually enable landowners to obtain titles under Section 18 of the Sarawak Land Code, which provide legal recognition and long-term security over NCR land.

The programme, initiated in 2007 with the support of the state government, is currently in its third phase, focusing on encouraging villages that have yet to begin the documentation process.

He stressed that the process will continue indefinitely until all Bidayuh NCR land is documented and surveyed.

Among present were Bukit Semuja assemblyman John Ilus, Tebedu assemblyman Dr Simon Sinang Bada, and DBNA chairman Datu Ik Pahon Joyik.