KUCHING: The presentation of land titles to landowners is not a political gimmick for the coming state election, said Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan.
He said issues pertaining to Native Customary Rights (NCR) land are often recycled by certain quarters as a way to put blame on the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) government.
He said these quarters also often claimed that the state government is trying to seize their land through land survey works.
“The allegations are not true as the state government had always fought for and defended the rights of bumiputeras on their NCR land.
“Despite the numerous accounts of instigators claiming that the state government is trying to steal the peoples’ land, the people generally believe that the sedition is not true.
“On the other hand, many applications are received by the Land and Survey Department to carry out land survey works,” he said in his speech during the handing over ceremony of Section 6 Sarawak Land Code Gazette and land titles under Section 18 for Serian Division at Balai Raya Kampung Sinjok, Siburan today.
Awang Tengah said the Land and Survey Department has been instructed to carry out land survey works throughout the state which involves all bumiputeras to ensure that their customary land rights are defended.
He explained that the state government had always manage to recognise NCR lands with supporting evidence based on existing legislations.
“It is the state’s goal and determination to help bumiputeras to survey their lands.
“What is more important is the cooperation from the community to carry out land survey works in their respective areas,” he said.
During the event, Awang Tengah handed over the Native Communal Reserve Gazette under Section 6 State of the Sarawak Land Code to Kampung Rayang, Serian and handed over 419 land titles under Section 18 to recipients from Kampung Mundai, Kampung Keromboi, Kampung Petung and Kampung Menjau.
Also present were Education, Science and Technological Research Minister Datuk Amar Michael Manyin Jawong; Modernisation or Agriculture, Native Land and Regional Development Assistant Minister Datuk Roland Sagah Wee Inn; Bukit Semuja assemblyman John Ilus; state Land and Survey Department director Abdullah Julaihi; and other dignitaries.
