KUCHING: The state government may employ private surveyors to survey Native Customary Right (NCR) lands in Sarawak in order to expedite the process.
Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg said the private surveyors would complement the efforts of the Land and Survey Department (JTS).
He added that community leaders could recommend private surveying firms to collaborate with JTS to expedite the land surveying process.
He was fielding a question from a community leader who suggested that private surveyors be roped in to help JTS with surveying process of NCR lands with landowners paying as portion of the costs.
“If you want the lands to be surveyed by the private (surveyors), I will ask that the JTS collaborate with the villagers and you can recommend the company which can do the job,” Abang Johari said at a townhall session in Betong yesterday.
The chief minister expressed his gratitude to the residents for their willingness to foot some of the surveying costs, adding that with the assistance of private surveyors, surveys of NCR lands could be done quickly.
“I will ask Divisional Residents to set up a committee and JTS to adopt the model that we have set up in Bau where the community leaders and landowners must be present when their lands are surveyed.
“With this, we can prevent any disputes as the landowners would agree on the borders of their respective lands.”
He added that with the model that JTS applied in Bau, more than 800 land titles were issued within a period of four months.
Abang Johari thanked the villagers for the suggestion and said that townhall sessions were crucial in the administration’s evolution process.
“This is where we give some space for us to gain input and as a platform for us take action,” he said.
