Landowners putting property to good use

0

LANDowners heaved a sigh of relief when the government announced the lifting up of Section 47 of the Sarawak Land Code for the Bako peninsula.

HOME SWEET HOME: This house in Bako peninsula has seen the passing of three generations.

It was the moment they had been waiting  and many could not contain their elation — not without valid reasons.

“It was a good day for us,” said AK Chan who owns a parcel of 12 acres in the area.

“When we heard the announcement, we were overjoyed.”

Chan took his wife and two daughters out to dinner to celebrate the good news.

“Finally, I can plan for the land,” he said.

He hopes to build a holiday home for his family on part of the land, and intends to farm the rest of it.

The land, according to him, is excellent for agriculture as it is located on hilly terrain.

The 53-year-old contractor inherited the land from his late mother.

He is the youngest son, and the only member of the family living in Kuching.

His other siblings have settled down overseas.

Another city dweller YC Lee, who owns a piece of property in the area, could not believe his eyes when he saw the headline.

“It was like a dream come true.”

He admitted that at first, he was taken aback by what he read in the newspapers but his surprise turned to joy when he realised the announcement was made by the Chief Minister himself.

Lee has two parcels of land, totalling 61.5 acres, in the area – an inheritance from his late grandfather.

He farmed the land before it was clogged.

And now, he plans to develop it.

Resident landowners, Chong Ming Kong and brother, Ming Yung were ecstatic when they read the good news in the media.

They never thought it would happen since their land was clogged some 30 years ago.

They thought they had to give up the land which has been their home for many years.

The 20 acres, owned by the two brothers, are the only property they ever had and is also home to three families.

There are some rubber trees on the land which the brothers tap before heading to town to work as menial labourers.

Previously, the land had seen a lot activities but now, it is overgrown with tall grass.

The brothers stopped developing the land after it was clogged. But now, they plan to farm the land again.

The Land and Survey Department announced on March 18 the rescission of the acquisition of the land in the Bako peninsula, involving 390 lots from 792 hectares placed under Section 47 of the Land Code.

Additionally, a total of 437 lots, covering 652.73 hectares, placed under Section 48 had been annulled.

According to Land and Survey Department director Datu Sudarsono Osman, the rescission took effect on March 16 following the approval of the notice under Section 79 of the Sarawak Land Code.

Section 79 is a public notice to inform that land is no longer under acquisition for public purposes.

Sudarsono explained that following the recent announcement by Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud on the release of Section 47 for Bako Peninsula, all statutory notices for Section 47 of the Sarawak Land Code (vide Gazette No.1132 dated April 19, 1973,) and Section 48 of the same Code (vide Gazette No.4795 dated September 30, 2010) for Bako peninsula had been rescinded.

He announced notices under Section 5 (vide Gazette No.4794 dated Sept 30, 2010) for Bako peninsula, had also been revoked.

On the land about to expire or have expired, he said the landowners may apply for renewal of their land lease “anytime.”

He stressed with the rescission, the landowners were free to develop their land but in tandem with development plans and approval must be obtained from the State Planning Unit.