Latest news with #LandandSurveyDepartment
Borneo Post
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Borneo Post
Ba Kelalan rep urges ex-gratia for villagers affected by SSLR project, NCR land ruling
Baru says many compensation claims were rejected by the Land and Survey Department due to conflicts between state regulations and the native 'adat' definition of NCR land. – Chimon Upon MIRI (July 15): Ba Kelalan assemblyman Baru Bian has called for ex-gratia payments to villagers whose traditional lands have been classified as state land due to restrictive interpretations of Native Customary Rights (NCR). He raised the issue following concerns from rural communities affected by the Sarawak-Sabah Link Road (SSLR) project, which he visited recently. Baru said many compensation claims were rejected by the Land and Survey Department due to conflicts between state regulations and the native 'adat' (customary) definition of NCR land. During a visit to Long Sukang and Long Semadoh today, Baru highlighted the impact of the Federal Court's ruling in the 'TR Sandah' case. The decision limited NCR recognition to land cultivated before Jan 1, 1958. 'This is a very restrictive definition of the law which I understand as a legal practitioner, but illogical to the simple minded native people in the interior of Sarawak whose 'adat' on land differs significantly from the present recent decision of the court,' he said. He noted that some lots, though surrounded by recognised NCR land, are now classified as state land simply because they were not cultivated before 1958. 'This is causing significant distress among the affected communities. 'I therefore urge the authorities to consider ex-gratia payments for these state lands as a compassionate gesture to acknowledge the 'adat' claims although lacking formal legal recognition,' he said. Baru said such payments would reflect the government's commitment to supporting rural communities facing potential loss of their ancestral land. Nevertheless, he also encouraged villagers to view the SSLR project as an opportunity for economic growth. He assured them of his support in addressing any issues with contractors or authorities. Baru Bian ncr land SSLR project
Jordan News
05-07-2025
- Politics
- Jordan News
Royal Hashemite Documentation Center Protects 9 Million Jordanian Documents Over Two Decades - Jordan News
Royal Hashemite Documentation Center Protects 9 Million Jordanian Documents Over Two Decades Over the past 20 years, since the Royal Decree establishing the Royal Hashemite Documentation Center (RHDC), the institution has emerged as one of the key guardians of Jordan's history. It has reawakened the past, vividly recounting its stories while connecting it to the present and future, and has successfully preserved over 9 million documents related to Jordan's history spanning more than 150 years. اضافة اعلان Within the center, major achievements are evident, including the digitization of more than 7 million documents from the Land and Survey Department, over 112,000 documents from the Emirate era (Hashemite Royal Court), more than 50,000 documents from the Prime Ministry, and around 87,000 documents from royal and secondary school archives. The center also holds large collections of photographs and special collections from individuals, universities, and media outlets. It has restored approximately 370,000 documents, records, and manuscripts, and archived more than 107,000 documents through its electronic archiving system. Notably, the RHDC restored 3,705 personal documents from the childhood and youth of the late Prime Minister Wasfi Al-Tal, along with six volumes of his daily journals comprising 538 pages—each rich in historical content. The RHDC was established in 2005 under a Royal Decree at the Hashemite Royal Court, under the supervision of HRH Prince Ali bin Nayef, Chairman of the Board of Trustees. The center aims to preserve the national and Hashemite historical memory, document the Hashemites' history, especially in Jordan and other countries they served, conduct historical research, and publish rare manuscripts and personal memoirs of historical figures. It also works to protect the noble lineage of the Prophet and those connected to it, and focuses on modern Jordanian history across political, social, cultural, and economic dimensions. The center has become renowned for its expertise in archival and restoration projects in collaboration with multiple governmental institutions, including the Royal Court, the Prime Ministry, the Land and Survey Department, the Chief Islamic Justice Department, the Cities and Villages Development Bank, the Ministries of Education and Awqaf, various public universities, Al-Rai newspaper, the National Library, Wasfi Al-Tal's estate, the Arabic Language Academy, the Orthodox Church, the Civil Service Bureau, the Civil Status and Passports Department, and the Department of Antiquities. Former Minister of Government Communications and current RHDC Director Dr. Muhannad Al-Mubaidin explained that the center follows international standards and best practices in document restoration, binding, and digitization. The process begins in a specialized lab where documents are meticulously restored using advanced tools and a highly trained team. Despite advances in technology, manual restoration remains superior due to its rarity, quality, and the expertise it requires, preserving both historical and artistic value. Modern restoration methods are also used, particularly for rare printed materials and stable-ink documents. For damaged or decayed manuscripts, natural materials are applied to reinforce and mend fragile paper, restore elasticity and strength, and protect against external factors—often using thermal reinforcement systems tailored to the document's paper and ink. The RHDC plays a vital role in publishing rare documents and filling historical gaps with accurate narratives that strengthen national memory and support scholarly research. To date, the center has published more than 31 historical books, covering diverse topics including: The Virtues of the Cloak Bearers, Notables of the Hashemite Lineage, The Art of Arabic Calligraphy, Jordan Through Ottoman Archive Documents (a first of its kind), The National Determination Story, Popular Participation in State Building, The Disengagement Decision, Jordanian Administration in Palestine, and more. To commemorate Jordan's Independence Day, the RHDC published The Independence Newspaper on May 25, 2024, showcasing the independence decree, congratulatory telegrams, and rare documents. A special bulletin released in May 2025 included other rare documents on independence coverage in both Arab and Western media—such as The Jordan newspaper and The New York Times—alongside previously unpublished official decisions and telegrams. Recognizing that culture and Raghdan Palace are twin pillars of Amman, the RHDC launched Raghdan, a peer-reviewed academic journal for historical and documentation studies. Four issues have been published, featuring 17 diverse research papers and documents. To keep pace with technological advancement, the center launched a proprietary indexing and archiving system—the first of its kind fully owned by a Jordanian governmental institution. It supports efficient data retrieval and knowledge sharing across ministries and institutions and hosts regular training courses in modern document management and security for both physical and digital records. The RHDC's strong connection to historical documentation has enabled it to forge local and international partnerships. It is a member of the International Council on Archives (ICA), the Arab Regional Branch (Arbica), and the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA). Dr. Mubaidin now serves as First Vice President of the Arbica Executive Council, in recognition of his leadership in developing archival capabilities. The center has also documented pivotal moments in Jordan's political history. It recorded the formation of Jordan's first government on April 11, 1921, under the name 'Government of the Arab East,' reflecting the pan-Arab sentiment of its members. The Council of Ministers was then called the 'Council of Advisors,' and its members 'Advisors,' with Rashid Tali'a appointed as its first President. Furthermore, the center documented the formation of Jordan's third government, led by Midhat Arslan, based on a rare handwritten document by the late King Abdullah I (then Prince Abdullah), dated August 11, 1921. The document reflects the format of cabinet formations of that era, known as 'Council of Advisors,' and includes the appointment of multiple advisors across various departments. The RHDC has also preserved significant milestones in Jordanian women's history, including: The 1945 application to establish the Jordanian Women's Union in Amman, The official founding document of the Union dated February 11, 1945, A 1974 document granting women the right to vote in parliamentary elections, issued by the late King Hussein, A 1979 document marking the appointment of In'am Al-Mufti as Jordan's first female minister, Documentation of women's participation in the 16th Senate (1989), And the election of the first female Member of Parliament in 1993. Dr. Mubaidin emphasized that the center is a vital hub for restoring the past and documenting the present—both visually and through rigorous research. It lays the groundwork for a comprehensive national archive, deserving of greater support to fulfill its ambitious vision for Jordan's future. --Barakat Al-Zayoud -- (Petra)
Malaysiakini
02-07-2025
- Politics
- Malaysiakini
Native land and soul: When will justice take root in S'wak?
LETTER | For too long, the soil of Sarawak has been rich with contradiction. It is a land of rivers and rainforests, of ancestral memory and spiritual depth - but also a land of encroachment, exploitation, and bureaucratic cruelty. Nowhere is this contradiction more painfully felt than in the long and unresolved battle over native customary rights (NCR) land. Recently, PKR deputy president Nurul Izzah Anwar added her voice to what Sarawak's indigenous communities have been crying out for, not for years, but for generations. In calling for an immediate halt to new licences issued over disputed lands and the expedition of surveys and legal ownership titles, she speaks not merely as a politician, but as a Malaysian with a conscience. Her words cut to the heart of the matter: 'Land is more than just a place to live. It is part of their soul and identity.' That soul, however, has been eroded, piece by piece, hectare by hectare - while court victories ring hollow, and elderly men and women die waiting for land titles that never come. A decade on the bureaucratic treadmill Take the case of Mary anak Nakai (not her real name), someone personally known to me. For the past 10 years, this middle-aged Bidayuh woman has made the long trek from her kampung to various Land and Survey Department offices - from Kota Samarahan to the towering Menara Pelita in Petra Jaya. She carries a neatly bound folder of letters, old maps, and hope - hoping that 'this visit' will be the one where someone finally tells her, 'Yes, puan, your land grant is approved.' But each visit ends with the same bureaucratic riddle. One officer tells her the file is 'under review.' Another says it's 'with the legal unit.' The next time, the officer in charge is 'at a meeting.' If not in a meeting, then 'on duty outside.' Sometimes, there's the cryptic 'we cannot locate your file'. And the cycle goes on. Nakai now refers to the actual decision-maker as 'the ghost officer' or 'pegawai hantu' - ever-present in theory, but never seen in reality. Only when Nakai arrives, the 'hantu officer' (ghost officer) has a meeting and cannot be disturbed. Her story, as she told me, is tragically familiar. Across Sarawak, countless NCR land applicants like Nakai have spent decades navigating red tape, only to die landless on land their families have lived on for generations. Forgotten rights, forgotten lives Names like Harrison Ngau and the late Bill Kayong are now etched into the legacy of resistance. Kayong, shot dead in broad daylight in 2016, remains a martyr for the cause of NCR land. His killers may have faced justice, but the system that emboldens land grabs has yet to be dismantled. Their struggle was not merely about court documents; it was about honouring the covenant between a people and their land. It was about saying: 'We were here, we are here, and we have the right to stay.' Numbers mask a deeper injustice Deputy Premier Awang Tengah Ali Hasan recently reported that over 1.2 million hectares have been surveyed under the New NCR Land Survey Initiative since 2010, with nearly 936,000ha gazetted as Bumiputera Communal Reserves under Section 6 of the Sarawak Land Code. On paper, these numbers seem promising. But statistics don't show the heartbreak. They don't reflect the speed at which bulldozers have cleared sacred forests while villagers wait years just to have their land claims recognised. They don't show the faces of the elderly being told - yet again - to 'come back next week.' And communal reserves are not the same as individual titles. Section 6 gives temporary security. Section 18 gives rightful ownership. That distinction means the world to the people living on that land. When law lags behind morality NCR is not merely a matter of administrative delay - it is a moral emergency. While state officials and companies profit from the spoils, communities are left navigating a legal labyrinth that too often leads nowhere. And though courts have recognised the legitimacy of native land based on 'adat' (customary law), enforcement remains inconsistent, and victories too often remain confined to courtroom transcripts, not real-life outcomes. It is one of the cruellest ironies of our modern federation: the Iban, Bidayuh, Orang Ulu, and Penan are treated as if they are squatters on their own ancestral land. Generations have been born and buried on these lands. Sacred grounds, burial sites, fruit groves, rivers, and hunting trails - all mapped in memory and tradition - have long constituted a living system of land tenure that predates any Sarawak Land Code. Yet, despite decades of promises and court affirmations, the land continues to be leased out to palm oil giants and timber tycoons with impunity. Often, this happens without consultation, without consent, and without even the courtesy of compensation. The result is not just legal ambiguity; it is cultural violence. A politician who knows That's what makes Nurul Izzah's intervention especially significant. Here is a politician from Putrajaya - far from the hills and rivers of Sarawak - who not only understands the law, but 'feels' the issue. Her call to action reflects rare empathy and clarity – as if she's telling Sarawakians, 'I hear you'. She cited heroes like Ngau and Kayong and reminded the nation that 'land is not just for living, but for worship, culture, and the soul.' To many Sarawakians, that sounds like the first time someone from Peninsular Malaysia truly gets it. Let the land be theirs again If the Sarawak government is sincere in its intentions, it must treat land rights not as a political concession but as a fundamental right. Expedite the surveys. Issue the titles. Halt all new licences on disputed land. Recognise the sacred and sovereign connection between a people and their land. To delay is to dispossess. To ignore is to erase. And to exploit is to colonise. Until then, people like Mary anak Nakai will keep catching buses, making appointments, and circling the same bureaucratic merry-go-round, no music, no horses, no joy - just hope, prayer, and the aching wait for someone to finally say: 'This land is your land.' The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.
Malaysiakini
02-07-2025
- Politics
- Malaysiakini
Native land and soul: When will justice take root in S'wak?
LETTER | For too long, the soil of Sarawak has been rich with contradiction. It is a land of rivers and rainforests, of ancestral memory and spiritual depth - but also a land of encroachment, exploitation, and bureaucratic cruelty. Nowhere is this contradiction more painfully felt than in the long and unresolved battle over native customary rights (NCR) land. Recently, PKR deputy president Nurul Izzah Anwar added her voice to what Sarawak's indigenous communities have been crying out for, not for years, but for generations. In calling for an immediate halt to new licences issued over disputed lands and the expedition of surveys and legal ownership titles, she speaks not merely as a politician, but as a Malaysian with a conscience. Her words cut to the heart of the matter: 'Land is more than just a place to live. It is part of their soul and identity.' That soul, however, has been eroded, piece by piece, hectare by hectare - while court victories ring hollow, and elderly men and women die waiting for land titles that never come. A decade on the bureaucratic treadmill Take the case of Mary anak Nakai (not her real name), someone personally known to me. For the past 10 years, this middle-aged Bidayuh woman has made the long trek from her kampung to various Land and Survey Department offices - from Kota Samarahan to the towering Menara Pelita in Petra Jaya. She carries a neatly bound folder of letters, old maps, and hope - hoping that 'this visit' will be the one where someone finally tells her, 'Yes, puan, your land grant is approved.' But each visit ends with the same bureaucratic riddle. One officer tells her the file is 'under review.' Another says it's 'with the legal unit.' The next time, the officer in charge is 'at a meeting.' If not in a meeting, then 'on duty outside.' Sometimes, there's the cryptic 'we cannot locate your file'. And the cycle goes on. Nakai now refers to the actual decision-maker as 'the ghost officer' or 'pegawai hantu' - ever-present in theory, but never seen in reality. Only when Nakai arrives, the 'hantu officer' (ghost officer) has a meeting and cannot be disturbed. Her story, as she told me, is tragically familiar. Across Sarawak, countless NCR land applicants like Nakai have spent decades navigating red tape, only to die landless on land their families have lived on for generations. Forgotten rights, forgotten lives Names like Harrison Ngau and the late Bill Kayong are now etched into the legacy of resistance. Kayong, shot dead in broad daylight in 2016, remains a martyr for the cause of NCR land. His killers may have faced justice, but the system that emboldens land grabs has yet to be dismantled. Their struggle was not merely about court documents; it was about honouring the covenant between a people and their land. It was about saying: 'We were here, we are here, and we have the right to stay.' Numbers mask a deeper injustice Deputy Premier Awang Tengah Ali Hasan recently reported that over 1.2 million hectares have been surveyed under the New NCR Land Survey Initiative since 2010, with nearly 936,000ha gazetted as Bumiputera Communal Reserves under Section 6 of the Sarawak Land Code. On paper, these numbers seem promising. But statistics don't show the heartbreak. They don't reflect the speed at which bulldozers have cleared sacred forests while villagers wait years just to have their land claims recognised. They don't show the faces of the elderly being told - yet again - to 'come back next week.' And communal reserves are not the same as individual titles. Section 6 gives temporary security. Section 18 gives rightful ownership. That distinction means the world to the people living on that land. When law lags behind morality NCR is not merely a matter of administrative delay - it is a moral emergency. While state officials and companies profit from the spoils, communities are left navigating a legal labyrinth that too often leads nowhere. And though courts have recognised the legitimacy of native land based on 'adat' (customary law), enforcement remains inconsistent, and victories too often remain confined to courtroom transcripts, not real-life outcomes. It is one of the cruellest ironies of our modern federation: the Iban, Bidayuh, Orang Ulu, and Penan are treated as if they are squatters on their own ancestral land. Generations have been born and buried on these lands. Sacred grounds, burial sites, fruit groves, rivers, and hunting trails - all mapped in memory and tradition - have long constituted a living system of land tenure that predates any Sarawak Land Code. Yet, despite decades of promises and court affirmations, the land continues to be leased out to palm oil giants and timber tycoons with impunity. Often, this happens without consultation, without consent, and without even the courtesy of compensation. The result is not just legal ambiguity; it is cultural violence. A politician who knows That's what makes Nurul Izzah's intervention especially significant. Here is a politician from Putrajaya - far from the hills and rivers of Sarawak - who not only understands the law, but 'feels' the issue. Her call to action reflects rare empathy and clarity – as if she's telling Sarawakians, 'I hear you'. She cited heroes like Ngau and Kayong and reminded the nation that 'land is not just for living, but for worship, culture, and the soul.' To many Sarawakians, that sounds like the first time someone from Peninsular Malaysia truly gets it. Let the land be theirs again If the Sarawak government is sincere in its intentions, it must treat land rights not as a political concession but as a fundamental right. Expedite the surveys. Issue the titles. Halt all new licences on disputed land. Recognise the sacred and sovereign connection between a people and their land. To delay is to dispossess. To ignore is to erase. And to exploit is to colonise. Until then, people like Mary anak Nakai will keep catching buses, making appointments, and circling the same bureaucratic merry-go-round, no music, no horses, no joy - just hope, prayer, and the aching wait for someone to finally say: 'This land is your land.' The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.
Daily Express
19-06-2025
- General
- Daily Express
500 Ranau folks finally receive their land titles
Published on: Thursday, June 19, 2025 Published on: Thu, Jun 19, 2025 By: Clarence Dol Text Size: Abidin and others with some of the land title recipients. RANAU: More than 500 residents in the three villages here finally received their land titles applied for through the Land and Survey Department's (JTU) Pantas programme. The land titles were distributed by the Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister Datuk Abidin Madingkir during the Kg Narawang, Kg Waluhu and Kg Lutut Pantas Programme Land Title handover ceremony at Mini Dewan Kg Narawang on Monday. Advertisement Abidin said 396 land titles were submitted at the event, while another 148 would be submitted next month after all the process is complete. 'We gather here because we have a significant event for the three villages. We know that this land has long been occupied by the villagers but legal ownership has not been obtained due to the difficulty of obtaining land titles. 'Finally, today the dream of the people to get a land title can be realised. We want to express our gratitude to Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor as his initiative for holding this Pantas programme throughout the state,' he said. Abidin, who is also Paginatan Assemblyman, also thanked JTU for its commitment to implement a significant government programme for the people. He said the next Pantas programme would be in Suminimpod Mukim as well as in the Tinanom, Kodop and Kigiwit. For Kg Bongkud and Namaus, he said, the approval of the Pantas programme was already obtained, and is only waiting for the allocation to be issued. 'Congratulations to all the recipients of the land titles. Hopefully, they can be passed down to our grandchildren as this is the most precious treasure. 'As Paginatan wakil rakyat, I urge all residents of the three villages to continue supporting Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) on the basis of the commitment and continued efforts of the government to prosper the people's lives. 'The government should be supported for the sake of development programmes through the Sabah Maju Jaya Development Plan (SMJ),' he said. Meanwhile, JTU representative, Saat Durasit said the department's initial target was to issue only 500 land titles through Pantas but after entering the field, it has successfully completed the land marking of about 600 land titles. 'Pantas measurement is very popular. In the Ranau parliamentary constituency, all state constituencies have their own Pantas programme but the most active is in Paginatan. 'We congratulate Datuk Abidin because he really worked hard to support this Pantas programme. JTU will always implement this programme as long as the government's allocation is still available,' he said. Village Head Nahur Masipah, representing the three villages, thanked Abidin because for his hard work, the villagers could now confirm land ownership after receiving the land titles. 'Thanks also to JTU for realising our dream of having a land title to the land we have long been working on. 'This is a history for us in Kg Narawang, Kg Lutut and Kg Waluhu for receiving a large number of land titles. This historic day has changed our lives for the better,' he said. Also present were Assistant Director of JTU Nurul Ikshan Bin Ibrahim, Assistant District Officer Florencia Padasian, District Head OKK Muhasip Hj Rauman, PPHT Ranau Jaidi Gulis, PPM Hishamudin Harun, Special Officer to Datuk Abidin Madingkir, Juis Konsuling, CDO Jipili Sigal and village leaders. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
