SARAWAK is, by far, the most advanced state in the field of ICT and at the helm is the Land and Survey Information System (Lasis).
“The international recognition accorded to the system, developed in Sarawak to provide services delivery, shows the system is second to none in the world,” Sains chief executive officer Datuk Teo Tien Hiong said.
He added the Land and Survey Department had been on this route for two decades.
Project manager Vincent Ho pointed out that the unique quality of the system is its single-mindedness.
Lasis is the result of the fundamental structure of the Land and Survey Department. The function of surveying and land administration falls under one department — that is the Land and Survey Department — whereas in the peninsula, each of the land functions falls under their respective departments — mapping under Jabatan Ukur dan Pemetaan Malaysia (Jupem), surveying under the Surveying Department and land under the Land Department.
The single structure of the Land and Survey Department has the advantage of hoarding all data pertaining to land activities under one roof and thus, reducing the amount spent in retrieving data.
“Let’s say a man wants information about his land. The system goes to the cadastral, retrieves and prints it out for him in graphical form, whereas in West Malaysia, the land owner will get information in text from the land office and Jupem will give him the map,” Teo explained.
Since its implementation in 2007, there have been visits by relevant parties from the peninsula to see and learn about the project. Through the word of mouth, more came.
The system’s international status was confirmed when Land and Survey director Datu Surdarsono was invited to give a talk on the project in Sydney. He was invited to give a similar talk in Morocco, India and Dubai.