SEMATAN: 430 residents from eight villages in the Tanjong Datu constituency received land titles as part of the Sarawak Government's ongoing efforts to strengthen land ownership security and safeguard the rights and interests of rural communities.

The land titles were presented by Sarawak Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan during the launch of Anjung Usahawan Sematan and Sematan Industrial Park here on Sunday.

According to him, the Sarawak Government continues to prioritise land surveying and the issuance of land titles to ensure land ownership is legally recognised.

"The implementation of Native Customary Rights (NCR) land surveys under the government's new initiative is an important step towards expediting the recognition of customary land rights, thereby providing ownership certainty for landowners and future generations,” he said.

He added that the process is carried out in stages, beginning with perimeter surveys under Section 6 of the Sarawak Land Code, followed by individual lot surveys for the issuance of land titles under Section 18.

Datuk Amar Awang Tengah stressed that land surveys under the initiative are conducted free of charge, with landowners not required to pay any surveying fees.

However, he said community cooperation is essential, particularly in identifying land boundaries, obtaining the consent of relevant parties and resolving any disputes before surveying work begins.

Meanwhile, he revealed that the Sarawak Government has allocated about RM40 million for land surveying work, in addition to covering the necessary operational and manpower costs.

According to him, efforts are also being made to strengthen the capacity of the Land and Survey Department Sarawak to expedite land surveys and the issuance of titles to eligible landowners.

Commenting on the traditional village land surveying programme, he said the initiative aims to provide greater security of land ownership for residents who have long lived in those villages.

He explained that some traditional settlements previously only had communal reserve status without individual land titles, and that the surveying programme would help address land ownership issues more comprehensively.

Therefore, he expressed hope that closer cooperation between the Land and Survey Department Sarawak, community leaders and landowners would ensure the smooth implementation of the surveying programme.

Also present were Tanjong Datu Assemblyman Azizul Annuar Adenan, Jepak Assemblyman Iskandar Turkee, Advisor (PKS) at the Ministry of International Trade, Industry and Investment Sarawak (MINTRED) Dato Sri Mohd Naroden Majais, MINTRED Permanent Secretary Datu Lester Matthew, Acting Director of Lands and Surveys Sarawak Rozlan Putit, Political Secretary to the Sarawak Premier Abang Abdul Aziz Abang Draup and Lundu District Officer Zulkarnain Ismail. -UKASnews