KUCHING: Local Government and Housing Assistant Minister Datuk Dr Penguang Manggil urges other Dayaks to follow the Bidayuh approach of surveying and demarcating their native customary rights land (NCR land) by doing it themselves.
He said that this would facilitate the tasks of the Land and Survey Department (Jabatan Tanah dan Survei, JTS) by saving time and effort.
In this, he also praised Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg for his recent announcement that the state government might employ private surveyors to complement the efforts of JTS in surveying NCR land.
“This will definitely help both JTS and landowners by expediting the surveying work, hence assisting the community in getting their NCR land gazetted under Section 6 (of the Sarawak Land Code) and thereafter to be surveyed under Section 18,” he said.
Modernisation of Agriculture, Native Land and Regional Development Assistant Minister Datuk Roland Sagah Wee Inn said the chief minister’s proposal showed his commitment to the land surveying and issuance of NCR land titles.
“I understand that JTS has recruited more personnel to beef up their survey teams while the use of private surveyors will certainly expedite the surveying process,” he said.
While urging for smooth cooperation between landowners and surveyors, he applauded the move to get the Resident’s Office to coordinate the efforts.
“I hope the surveying of NCR land will not be politicised,” Sagah said.
Meanwhile, Sarawak Patriots Association (SPA) chairman Datuk John Lau hoped that private surveyors would not be ‘proxy holders’ but instead, be competent and efficient in working to solve NCR land issues.
“We are confident that the Sarawak government will call for open tender and be transparent in appointing the private NCR-competent surveyors,” he said.
