DUN Sarawak: JTS, UNIFOR builds the procedure for registering land donations to religious bodies

KUCHING, 16 Oct: The Sarawak Land and Survey Department (JTS) is working with the Unit for Other Religious Affairs (UNIFOR) to develop a comprehensive procedure to facilitate land registration donations to religious bodies in Sarawak.

Sarawak Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Urban Development, Datuk Len Talif Salleh, said the Land Code (Amendment) Ordinance 2025 provides for new provisions under Section 171A of the Sarawak Land Code to allow registration of waqaf or land grants to religious bodies.

"JTS is now working closely with UNIFOR to develop a comprehensive and appropriate procedure for facilitating the registration of land grants, covering various religious bodies in Sarawak.

"It includes the determination of ownership of NCR land prior to registration of the land grant concerned", he said in response to a question by ADUN Katibas, Lidam Assan, at the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly (DUN) conference here today.

However, Len Talif explained that the determination of NCR's ownership rights under Section 18 of Sarawak Land Code must be done first before land grant registration under Section 171A can be implemented.

According to him, land ownership documents must be registered in advance to ensure that the status of property donated to the religious body is clear and guaranteed.

The purpose of Section 171A, he said, was to provide a clear and orderly legislative mechanism to facilitate land grant registration to religious bodies as well as ensure proper administration of the land.

The measure also aims to minimize the risk of future land ownership disputes. - TVS