S’wak govt bears full cost to legalise NCR lands, says Awang Tengah

MUKAH (Jan 20): The Sarawak government has allocated over RM40 million since 2010 to implement the Native Customary Rights (NCR) land surveying programme, reinforcing its ongoing effort to safeguard and legalise land ownership for the communities.

Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan said the programme follows a new two-tier approach, comprising group (communal) surveys and individual lot surveying, in line with existing legal provisions and procedures.

He explained that participation begins with a formal application by landowners, which is then examined and processed under Section 6 of the Sarawak Land Code.

“Once approval is granted, the Land and Survey Department will conduct engagement sessions with all parties involved to discuss and coordinate land boundaries, particularly in areas involving large tracts of land or complex boundary issues,” he said.

Awang Tengah was speaking at a press conference following the groundbreaking ceremony for the Tellian Tengah Village Expansion Scheme (Phase 1) in Mukah, and the handover of the gazettes for the Bumiputera Communal Reserve (Agriculture) under Section 6 and individual land titles under Section 18 of the Sarawak Land Code at the CENTEXS Mukah Multipurpose Hall here.

He added that upon completion of group surveying works, a gazette under Section 6 would be issued as legal proof recognising land ownership.

Landowners may then apply for individual surveys, during which they must assist on-site to determine unclear boundaries.

Once individual surveys are completed, land titles under Section 18 will be issued.

Awang Tengah stressed that all costs for surveying and land titles are fully borne by the government, with no fees, premiums, or land taxes imposed.

According to Awang Tengah, the government spends an average of about RM30 million annually to implement the programme and is prepared to increase allocations if demand continues.

To facilitate implementation, the Land and Survey Department has strengthened its workforce with 367 additional personnel, especially for field surveying teams.

Since the programme’s launch, approximately 1.2 million hectares of NCR land have been surveyed and over 900,000 hectares gazetted, a significant increase from the 260,000 hectares surveyed between 1960s and 2010.

In addition, the government is also implementing the Traditional Villages Surveying Programme, granting permanent ownership without any land premiums or taxes for old villages yet to receive land titles.

He urged community leaders and village committees to fully utilise the programme to secure legally recognised land ownership for future generations, adding that the initiative will continue as long as it remains necessary.