According to a Borneo Post online report, the state’s Second Minister of Resource Planning and Environment Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan said this was proof the state government recognised and assisted in the recognition of NCR land in Sarawak.
Awang Tengah also said that as of January 31, the Land and Survey Department had conducted a perimeter survey on 459 areas involving 732,080ha, with priority given to areas without disputes.
He also stressed that claims about NCR land must be based on legitimate evidence.
“Please do not make unreasonable claims on land to deprive others of the same rights. What is rightfully yours will be yours definitely,” he said after presenting land titles to landowners recently, while acknowledging the tendency of certain quarters to exploit land issues for political gain.
Awang Tengah said Chief Minister Adenan Satem would ensure rural development was accelerated and that the natives’ rights over their land would be championed.
He explained that perpetuity land titles, issued without any premium or annual fees was proof of the state government’s sincerity.
Adenan has issued repeated warnings to individuals and companies against grabbing NCR land for the purpose of establishing plantations and reiterated the state government’s commitment to protect the rights of the indigenous people and their land at all costs.