KUCHING: Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg has issued a warning to the public regarding suspiciously low-priced offers for land lots.
He highlighted that this issue of land scams often occurs when people migrate to Kuching, where individuals deceive others by selling land lots and falsely claiming ownership.
“People unknowingly buy these lots with low prices ranging from RM5,000 to RM10,000, while in reality, the land belongs to the government.
“As a result, they (buyers) start investing money to build houses in these areas without understanding the true ownership of the land.
“This creates a dilemma for the government later, as it may appear as if we are taking away people’s land, even though it was not rightfully theirs in the first place,” he said.
He said these during a press conference after conducting a work visit to the Sungai Bedaun Settlement Project implemented by the Land Custody and Development Authority (LCDA) here today (Jan 6).
Further addressing the issue, Abang Johari pointed out that this problem is widespread throughout Sarawak, particularly in developing areas such as Miri and Bintulu.
Therefore, he urged the public to verify with the Land and Survey Department regarding land ownership before purchasing land and avoid turning into a political issue when existing laws are in place to govern such issues.
“Just like in Kuching, people are looking for opportunities. When people migrate, they may not be aware of the backgrounds of the land and those they deal with, and they might not be cautious.
“Therefore, the public must be cautious and verify with the Land and Survey Department before making any land transactions to avoid scams,” he added. He urged village chiefs and community leaders to observe what is happening in their respective areas and work together with the Land and Survey Department to protect residents from deceitful practices.
