BAU: Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Abang Abdul Rahman Zohari Tun Abang Openg is expected to hand over about 2,000 land title grants to residents in the Bau district on 23 June.

Sarawak Deputy Minister for Transport Datuk Henry Harry Jinep said the handover of the grants would be held in conjunction with the opening ceremony of the Bau Bidayuh Cultural Centre (BCC).

He stressed that the Sarawak Government's efforts in distributing land title grants to the people were carried out continuously and were not motivated by seasonal political interests.

"The state government has long been committed to ensuring that the residents' land rights, especially Native Customary Rights (NCR) land, are recognised and legally handed over," he said.

He said this when speaking at the closing ceremony of the BiSingai Townhall programme held at the Datuk Peter Nansian Ngusie Hall, Kampung Apar Singai, on Sunday.

According to him, the Singai area has recorded encouraging progress in the land title grant handover process since 2019, with hundreds of recipients receiving ownership rights in stages.

The Tasik Biru Assemblyman explained that the initiative began in January 2019 in Kampung Sudoh with the handover of 636 grants involving several villages including Kampung Daun, Kampung Tanjong Bowang and Kampung Senibung, in addition to involving Native Communal Reserve areas for agricultural and heritage purposes.

The effort continued in February 2020 in Kampung Bobak Sejinjang with the handover of 528 grants to residents from Kampung Sudoh, Kampung Atas, Kampung Bobak Sajong and Kampung Daun.

Subsequently, in September 2020, a total of 132 grants were handed over in Kampung Tanjong Poting involving several nearby villages.

In September 2022, a total of 305 recipients received their respective land grants during a ceremony at the Tasik Biru Festival, involving residents of Kampung Barieng, Kampung Senibung and Kampung Skibang.

For 2024, a total of 845 recipients from several villages including Kampung Segong, Kampung Senibung, Kampung Tanjong Poting, Kampung Apar, Kampung Sibuluh, Kampung Atas and Kampung Grogo also received land grants.

At the same ceremony, Datuk Henry also presented educational incentives totaling RM39,100 to 86 students from the Tasik Biru constituency area pursuing their studies at the matriculation, diploma and bachelor’s degree levels at institutions of higher learning.

Also present were REDEEMS President Datuk Peter Nansian Ngusie, REDEEMS Life President Datuk Wilfred Rata Nissom, REDEEMS Deputy President Dr Les Met, Bau District Officer Eddy Nayoi, Kuching Division Bidayuh Temenggong Atok Derop and Bau District Bidayuh Pemanca Robert Tom Juin. -UKASnews