KUCHING: The Land and Survey Department says it is not NCR land the villagers from Melikin area claim as theirs.
Its director Sajeli Kipli clarified through a press statement received here yesterday that the land in question which the villagers claimed as their NCR land fell within the Balai Ringin Protected Forest and was gazetted through GN.No.1416 dated Nov 8, 1935 and also Sabal Forest Reserve gazetted through GN.No.331 dated Nov 28, 1927.
“The grant of ownership of the land in the area does not contravene the law and there is no issue on the termination of NCR as portrayed by the villagers,” he said in the statement.
The press statement was issued in response to news report about some villagers who claimed to be from the Melikin area gathering near Menara Pelita here since May 14.
Sajeli said it was the department’s standard practice that before the grant of ownership was issued, any authentic NCR land must be excluded from the grant of ownership.
“The Land and Survey Dept is also sensitive and responsive towards the villagers’ problems. The allegation that no action is taken with regards to the villagers’ complaint is not true.”
Sajeli said that the problems the villagers had been facing had been forwarded to the Land and Survey Department through the Ensabang Area Development committee/Melikin Balai Ringin headed by a community leader, one Alex Libau.
He said the committee was not involved with the group which gathered outside Menara Pelita.
Sajeli said the department had also organised a series of meeting with villagers in the area had also held meeting with the Provisional Lease (PL) landowners.
“From the validation and report received, the PL owners had on their own initiative contacted and discussed with the villagers regarding their complaints and worries, especially on the subject about the implementation of development on the ground.”
Sajeli advised the villagers not to be easily influenced by certain group out to incite them but to contact the relevant authorities to solve their problems.