‘More federal funds means more NCR land can be surveyed’

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Awang Tengah being greeted by the welcoming party decked out in their best native costumes at the Sejiwa Senada expo opening ceremony in Miri on Sunday.

MIRI: Funds from the federal government have enabled Land and Survey Department to conduct perimeter survey on 834,696 hectares of native customary rights (NCR) land thus far.

With availability of more funds, more areas would be surveyed, said Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan.

Thus, the announcement by the Prime Minister that more allocations would be provided for the survey of NCR land was greeted with much joy by Sarawakians, he added.

The Second Minister of Urban Development and Natural Resources was commenting on the BN manifesto for the 14th general election which was revealed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak on April 8.

“There are many things mentioned in the manifesto with regards to Sarawak, but we are grateful it includes continuing funding for us to carry out perimeter survey of NCR lands,” he said.

Of the 834,696 hectares of NCR land demarcated and surveyed, 656,373 hectares were already gazetted under Section 6 of the Sarawak Land Code while the rest were still being processed by the department.

Awang Tengah also said the federal government’s allocation of funds since 2010 had enabled the state to undertake a more

vigorous approach towards registration of native lands across the state through perimeter survey.

“We have already surveyed over 870,000 hectares and with additional funding, we can do more,” he told The Borneo Post.

He commended the Land and Survey Department for their efforts and hard work in undertaking the perimeter survey in every nook and corner of the state before doing individual lot survey and issuing land titles.

The deputy chief minister also said the comprehensive national BN manifesto included additional funding for the Pan Borneo Highway project which cost RM40 billion and upgrading of Lawas Airport and Mukah Airport.

Awang Tengah, who is also Minister of Industrial and Entrepreneur Development, said this would help connect Lawas to the outside world and boost its tourism and other economic sectors.

The current Lawas Airport can only accommodate small aircraft such as Twin Otters operated by MASwings, with its runway in danger of flooding during rainy spells.

Lawas District is home to the highlands of the Lun Bawang community, Mt Murud (the highest mountain in Sarawak), idyllic coastal fishing villages, unique beads and products from the sea, particularly smoked fish called ‘Tahai’.