Deputy Premier rebuts inertia claims, says nearly 1.3 mln ha of S’wak NCR land surveyed since 2010

Awang Tengah (seated, centre) with distinguished guests and attendees at the Mambong NCR land title presentation ceremony on May 26, 2026.

By Amanda L

KUCHING, May 26: Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan has issued a sharp rebuttal to social media critics accusing the State of inertia (a situation in which there is very little activity or interest) on native land rights, as nearly 1.3 million hectares of NCR land have been surveyed since 2010.

Speaking at the presentation ceremony for Section 6 Native Customary Rights (NCR) land gazettes and Section 18 land titles for the Mambong constituency today, he challenged online narratives with hard-ground facts.

“A total of nearly 1.3 million hectares of NCR land has been surveyed since 2010, compared to only about 260,000 hectares recorded over more than five decades from the 1960s to 2010.

“Of the total area surveyed, about 970,000 hectares have already been gazetted under Section 6 of the Sarawak Land Code,” he said.

Awang Tengah said the progress reflected a structured approach introduced in 2010 to accelerate land recognition and registration, involving a two-stage process.

The first stage involves perimeter surveys and gazettement under Section 6, followed by individual land title applications under Section 18 of the Sarawak Land Code.

He said the system was designed to provide clearer boundary delineation and stronger legal certainty for NCR landowners across the State.

The Deputy Premier stressed that all surveying work is carried out based on applications from landowners with unresolved court cases required to be settled before inclusion in the programme.

He also highlighted that since 2010, the State government has spent about RM40 million on NCR land surveying in addition to receiving approximately RM2 million in federal funding.

“More than 400 officers have been deployed Statewide to support implementation, with the State government absorbing operational and salary costs of no less than RM30 million annually,” he explained, adding that all services under the programme are provided free of charge to applicants.

Addressing implementation challenges, he acknowledged issues such as overlapping land claims and cases where some claimants fail to attend scheduled survey sessions despite repeated notices, which can delay field operations.

Nevertheless, he credited local communities, village chiefs and organisations, including the Dayak Bidayuh National Association (DBNA), for assisting in documentation and coordination efforts.

He also said land titles issued under Section 18 do not require payment of premiums or annual land taxes, with ownership remaining permanent unless transferred or sold.

“The government would continue the NCR land surveying programme for as long as necessary to ensure indigenous land rights are properly secured and recognised,” he said. — DayakDaily