KUCHING: The Sarawak Government’s efforts to expedite the surveying and gazetting of Native Customary Rights (NCR) land continue to show positive progress, with 11 NCR land areas in the Jepak constituency — covering approximately 3,372 hectares or 8,333 acres — approved for perimeter surveying as of 30 April 2026.

Deputy Minister for Urban Planning, Land Administration and Environment Datuk Len Talif Salleh said of this total, eight areas covering 2,984 hectares or 7,373 acres have completed surveying and have been gazetted as Native Communal Reserves (Agriculture) under Section 6 of the Sarawak Land Code.

According to him, this achievement proves the Sarawak Government's continuous commitment to strengthening the recognition of NCR land rights and accelerating the process of legal land ownership for the people.

He noted that the remaining three areas, involving 175 hectares or 432 acres at KM15 Jalan Ulu Sebauh (Areas B, C, and D), have yet to begin the surveying process.

He explained that this situation occurred because the Tuai Rumah and the land claimants were absent during the round-table dialogue sessions held in 2012.

“In fact, no feedback has been received from the land claimants in those areas despite various efforts carried out by the Bintulu Division Land and Survey Department, including contacting them via letters, phone calls, and local radio announcements,” he said.

He said this while responding to a question posed by Jepak Assemblyman Iskandar Turkee during the 19th Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) Sitting here on Friday.

In an effort to further expedite the NCR land surveying process, he said the Sarawak Government has increased the capacity of the Land and Survey Department by approving the recruitment of 467 officers across various categories, involving an additional expenditure of RM30 million per year.

Furthermore, the services of private surveyors are being utilised to bolster the capacity of the department's survey teams.

At the same time, he mentioned that the Land and Survey Department is conducting studies and research to identify more efficient and suitable surveying methods and technologies.

This approach aims to speed up field survey work without compromising the accuracy and quality of the data obtained.

Responding to a supplementary question regarding the status of land involving original claimants who passed away before the titles were issued, he clarified that land ownership titles can still be issued in the name of the deceased claimant.

He added that the heirs of the claimant can manage the inheritance of the land through the probate process in accordance with existing legal provisions. — UKASnews

Translator: Ryan Lim