KUCHING: Over 1.25 million hectares of Native Customary Rights (NCR) land have been surveyed across Sarawak as of 31 August 2026 under the New NCR Land Survey Initiative Programme.

Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Abang Abdul Rahman Zohari Tun Datuk Abang Openg said the Sarawak Government remains committed to accelerating the surveying and issuance of titles for NCR land.

According to him, the achievement should not be viewed merely in terms of figures, as every lot and boundary involves families, history, sources of income and the future of generations to come.

“Therefore, subsequent efforts must adopt an end-to-end approach, from identifying areas, surveying and verifying boundaries to documentation, registration and the issuance of land titles,” he said.

He said this when speaking at the Land and Survey Department Innovation and Integrity Day (HIITS) 2026 at a prominent hotel here on Wednesday.

He added that the adoption of technology can help accelerate the process, but engagement with landowners, communities and stakeholders remains vital in reducing disputes, building confidence and ensuring the people's rights continue to be safeguarded.

Meanwhile, Datuk Patinggi Abang Zohari said valuation functions are also facing increasingly complex challenges following the implementation of more infrastructure projects, urban development and large-scale investments in Sarawak.

According to him, land acquisition must be supported by professional, consistent and defensible valuations to ensure development can proceed on schedule without overlooking landowners’ rights to fair compensation.

At the same time, he said premium valuations for changes in land-use conditions, direct alienation, land lease renewals and major projects must carefully take into account market changes and development potential.

He cited the road development in Tanjung Embang as an example, which he noted would impact land values due to infrastructure development.

He said this matter requires close attention from the Land and Survey Department through relevant provisions under Section 47 and Section 48.

“We know that as we develop an area, its valuation price will naturally change due to shifts in land value.

“Sometimes even constructing a road is difficult, but not building it is also difficult. Yet, this is economic evolution. It means that as we develop the state, the benefits ultimately go to the people,” he said.

Also present were Sarawak Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan, Sarawak Secretary Datuk Amar Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki, Deputy Minister for Urban Planning, Land Administration and Environment Datuk Len Talif Salleh, Deputy Minister in the Sarawak Premier's Department (Integrity and Ombudsman) Datuk Dr Juanda Jaya, Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Urban Development Sarawak Datu Abdullah Julaihi and Director of Lands and Surveys Sarawak Datu Awang Zamhari Awang Mahmood. -UKASnews

Prepared by: Ahmad Daniel Faiz
Photos: Ameerul Shafiq Khir
Translator: Ryan Lim