SIBU: The government has so far conducted perimeter survey on 348,000 hectares of Native Customary Right (NCR) land in the Sarikei Division.
Of the total, 260,000 hectares are in Merurun area near here.
Member of Parliament for Julau, Datuk Joseph Salang said the Sarikei Division had now the biggest area of NCR land with perimeter survey.
This, he said, indicated that the people had understood its rationale very well and no longer feared it.
He said this before presenting the government declaration of communal reserve certificates to 66 longhouse chief from the Merurun land district at the community hall here yesterday.
Salang said with the certificates, they could plan to develop their land collectively for commercial farming through joint ventures or by themselves.
“Of course, the next course of action is to request the government to do the individual lot survey under Section 18 of the State Land Code to get the individual titles,” he advised.
Salang added landowners could invite government land development agencies such as the SALCRA, FELDA, MPOB or the Malaysian Pepper Board and others to help them develop their land.
“The chances of landowners losing ownership of their land are greater when the land is left idle.
“But when you have them gainfully developed, you can be assured of steady income to lift up your standard of living. Your land is your wealth,” said Salang.
He added that the government would pay them fair compensation if their land was acquired for development purposes.
