KUCHING: Residents in Bau were overjoyed after receiving their land titles during a handing over ceremony at Krokong, Bau yesterday.
A total of 579 land titles were given to 827 Native Customary Rights landowners for residential use.
A civil servant from Kampung Skiat Lama, Milton Mindod, 36, expressed his gratitude to the state government and the Land and Survey Department for providing the land titles accordingly.
“I feel very fortunate to be able to receive the title to my land as it helps to identify and solidify my position as the landowner.
“The procedure was very quick and easy with the help from the department staff.”
Meanwhile, 37-year-old chef, Leo John from Kampung Suba Bandar, said he was pleased to receive the land title after waiting for seven years.
He hoped that the application process could be expedited to ease the nerves of many landowners.
Latap Ugin, 57, a retiree from Kampung Skiat Baru, said that he was delighted to see the state government’s involvement in the process and their consideration towards the welfare of the community.
“I applied for the land titles two weeks ago and with the help of the Land and Survey Department, I am able to collect my land title today.
“I do not plan on building a house on the land but I am pleased to know that as the rightful owner of the land according to the land title, I am able to pass down the land to my children and grandchildren later,” he added.
Latap also hoped to see the state government and the Land and Survey Department continue providing all rightful landowners with the land titles.
Another resident from from Kampung Skiat Baru, 53-year-old Sasap Taguu, said he was glad to receive his land title and commended the current state government for materialising their plans of providing land titles for the community.
He later revealed that he had been living on the land for a number of years without a land title.
“Now with a valid land title, I feel more secure as the landowner,” he added.
Meanwhile, state Land and Survey Department director Abdullah Julaihi said that this was a continuous programme and imposed no charge for their services.
“On behalf of the Land and Survey Department of Sarawak I would like to thank the residents of Krokong for their cooperation throughout the process of getting the land titles,” he added.
