Latest news with #NativeCustomaryRights
Borneo Post
a day ago
- Politics
- Borneo Post
‘Sik dengar bedok': Fazzrudin clarifies Sarawak's NCR efforts in response to Nurul Izzah
Fazzrudin says Nurul Izzah's remarks seemed to suggest concern for Sarawak but overlooked the extensive efforts already undertaken by the state government. KUCHING (June 28): PKR deputy president Nurul Izzah Anwar would have had a better understanding of the Native Customary Rights (NCR) land issue in Sarawak if she had paid closer attention, instead of merely 'melepas batuk di tangga' (saying half-heartedly), said Dato Fazzrudin Abdul Rahman, Chief Political Secretary to the Sarawak Premier. In a Facebook post today, Fazzrudin said Nurul Izzah appeared disconnected from the realities on the ground, referencing a local expression 'sik dengar bedok' (not aware of what's happening). 'But thanks to her for seemingly showing concern. Probably she thinks the Sarawak state election is near,' he added. Fazzrudin was responding to Nurul Izzah's recent statement calling for faster action on land surveys and ownership approvals for NCR land in Sarawak, and a halt to the issuance of new licences on disputed land. He said Nurul Izzah's remarks seemed to suggest concern for Sarawak but overlooked the extensive efforts already undertaken by the state government. Fazzrudin explained that since October 2010, the Sarawak government, in collaboration with the federal government and with additional funds, has implemented the NCR Land Survey Programme to improve recognition of NCR land rights. Between the 1960s and 2010, a total of 260,000 hectares of NCR land were surveyed and titles issued. Since the implementation of the new initiative in 2010, the progress has been significant. 'From October 2010 to May 2025, a total of 1,203,003 hectares of NCR land have been measured perimeter-wise. Once it has been measured and gazetted as NCR under section 6 of the Sarawak Land Code, the rights of the landowners are guaranteed,' he said. Fazzrudin explained that the next phase — dividing the land into individual lots — is more complex and time-consuming due to overlapping claims and the requirement for landowners to be present during boundary verification. 'In addition, there are also overlapping claims that need to be resolved. Sometimes the process takes time,' he said. Despite these challenges, he said the state government has successfully continued to measure and issue individual titles, and remains fully committed to the programme 'We even went a step further by amending our land code, namely, apart from NCR land areas, land occupied by communities can be legally recognised through NTD (Native Territorial Domain). 'In addition, we have stopped applications for government land for large-scale plantation purposes since March 2015. 'But if there is more detailed information about the NCR location that he mentioned, we can investigate and solve it together,' Fazzrudin added. fazzrudin abdul rahman Land Survey ncr land nurul izzah
Borneo Post
a day ago
- Politics
- Borneo Post
Putrajaya should continue providing funding for S'wak's NCR land survey initiative, says Awg Tengah
Awang Tengah speaks to reporters when met at PBB HQ today. – Photo by Chimon Upon KUCHING (June 28): The federal government should continue providing funding for the Native Customary Rights (NCR) land survey initiative in Sarawak if it is genuinely concerned about the issue, said Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan. 'If she (Nurul Izzah) is truly concerned about this issue, I hope the federal government will continue to provide funding,' he told reporters at the Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) headquarters here today. Awang Tengah was commenting on PKR deputy president Nurul Izzah Anwar's recent statement urging the federal government to expedite NCR land surveys and ownership approvals, and to halt the issuance of new licences on disputed land. He said Sarawak has made significant strides in surveying NCR land since the introduction of the New NCR Land Survey Initiative in 2010. 'Perhaps she is unaware of the developments and the successes we have achieved. Since 2010, we have implemented the NCR land survey through a new initiative carried out in two stages — first, perimeter surveying, and second, individual lot surveying. All of this is based on applications from the communities,' he said. To date, more than 1.2 million hectares of NCR land have been surveyed under the initiative. 'Almost one million hectares have been issued documentation under Section 6 of the Sarawak Land Code,' he added. He said the second phase, which involves surveying individual lots, begins once the land is gazetted under Section 6 and applications are submitted by the landowners. 'We have already implemented this, and the success has been significant. This is a much faster method.' Awang Tengah noted that before the 2010 initiative, various approaches were used to carry out land surveys, including through resettlement programmes dating back to the 1960s. 'Over more than 50 years, we managed to survey only around 260,000 hectares. Compare that to what we have achieved since 2010 — the results have increased many times over,' he said. He stressed that the Sarawak government is fully committed to continuing the initiative and has already allocated RM40 million to support it. 'This funding can be applied for if needed. In addition, we have deployed over 370 officers to carry out the survey work, all funded by the Sarawak government,' he said, adding that annual spending on the initiative amounts to no less than RM30 million. 'This is an ongoing effort. We continue to receive applications, and each is considered accordingly.' He also underscored the importance of cooperation from landowners, especially for individual surveys. 'They must be present on the ground to verify their boundaries. This is not something we do haphazardly,' he said. 'Once approval is granted, we engage directly with the communities involved. We hold dialogues, verify evidence and boundary claims, and everything is done transparently. With agreement and cooperation, the process can be accelerated.' Touching on legal disputes involving NCR land, Awang Tengah advised claimants to either wait for court rulings or withdraw their cases if they wish to join the survey initiative. 'If they are interested in joining the programme, they should withdraw the case from court and submit their applications. Everything is based on voluntary application,' he said. Awang Tengah Land Survey NCR nurul izzah
Borneo Post
10-06-2025
- General
- Borneo Post
Longhouse chief thanks govt for undertaking NCR land survey over Ng Ensilai in Kapit
TR Jambon Andas KAPIT (June 10): The chieftain of a 45-unit longhouse at Nanga Ensilai, on the west bank of Rajang River opposite this town, is thankful for surveying works undertaken by the state government to ensure ownership of individual Native Customary Rights (NCR) land lots. According to Tuai Rumah Jambon Andas, the Land and Survey Department is set to kick off Phase II perimeter survey under Section 18 of the Sarawak Land Code, meant for the individual landowners. 'Phase I survey under Section 6 of the Code was completed in 2020, meant for the communal land titles. 'On behalf of my longhouse folks, we are very happy that Land and Survey Department has commenced the Phase II surveying. 'The surveyors have been on the ground since April. 'On our part, we make sure that the NCR land claimants from Nanga Ensilai are fully cooperating with the surveyors and working closely with them in identifying the land boundaries. 'This is meant to help smoothen and expedite the surveying works. For this, I also wish to thank the individual landowners for such a solid cooperation,' said Jambon when met here recently. The longhouse chieftain also expressed gratitude to Works Minister and Kapit MP Dato Sri Alexander Nanta Linggi, and Deputy Minister in Sarawak Premier's Department (Native Customs and Laws) and Bukit Goram assemblyman Datuk Jefferson Jamit Unyat, for their strong support in facilitating the NCR land perimeter survey over Nanga Ensilai. Jambon Andas longhouse native customary rights land NCR land survey
Borneo Post
30-05-2025
- Business
- Borneo Post
Doppa demands ‘no risk' exemption from EU for indigenous Dayak palm oil farmers
Data from Sarawak shows 48,000 independent smallholders are actively involved in supplying the 85 mills that process their oil palm harvests. – Bernama photo KUCHING (May 30): The Dayak Oil Palm Planters Association (Doppa) is calling on the European Union (EU) to grant a 'no risk' exemption for indigenous farmers in Sarawak, following the EU's decision to classify Malaysia as Standard Risk under its deforestation regulations. The livelihoods of the indigenous people in Sarawak who depend on farming will be affected if the EU fails to take into account the negative impacts of the listing on the indigenous people in Sarawak, Doppa President Napolean R. Ningkos said in a press statement today. 'Doppa sees the EU as an unjust body that failed to engage directly with those most affected by the regulations and relied instead on misinformation created by third parties to exclude smallholders in Sarawak from the EU market,' he claimed. Data from Sarawak shows 48,000 independent smallholders are actively involved in supplying the 85 mills that process their oil palm harvests. 'Our concern is that while established big plantation companies may have the ability to provide proof of traceability for corporate oil palm plantations, the amount of paperwork required under Standard Risk may push corporate mills that supply the EU market to cut off independent smallholders,' he stressed. He also criticised the EU's reliance on satellite mapping to monitor compliance, arguing that such technology is flawed when applied to indigenous lands in Sarawak. 'There is zero risk of deforestation for palm oil by Dayak farmers in Sarawak. All of our farms, whether existing or to be planted after the compliance date on December 2025, will be on old farmlands.' 'Satellite mapping is faulty in that it may detect activity on overgrown fallow lands as new deforestation,' he said. 'The EU must be informed that the indigenous Dayaks of Sarawak were largely subsistence farmers who practised shifting cultivation before switching to oil palm cultivation in the 1990s. 'Our farms can only be cultivated after land titles are granted under the Sarawak Land Code, which recognises Native Customary Rights (NCR) as legitimate land ownership. The baseline for obtaining a land title is that our forefathers must have already developed the land,' he explained. He urged the EU to recognise that no forests were cleared for oil palm, cocoa, or rubber farms operated by indigenous Dayak smallholders. 'The oil palm fruits produced by Dayak farmers in Sarawak represent one of the clearest examples of a no-deforestation supply. Yet, the EU's regulations threaten to remove us from their market,' he said. Doppa insists that granting a 'no risk' exemption is the only fair way to ensure indigenous farmers are not punished by regulations they are unequipped to comply with.
Borneo Post
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Borneo Post
Len Talif: 30 areas in Opar approved for NCR land perimeter surveys, over 1,400 titles issued
Len Talif said 10 villages have been approved. Of these, two villages have been fully surveyed, with 415 land titles issued for one of them. – Roy KUCHING (May 22): A total of 30 areas within the Opar constituency have been approved for perimeter surveys of Native Customary Rights (NCR) land as of April 30 this year, said Sarawak Deputy Minister of Urban Planning, Land Administration and Environment, Datuk Len Talif Salleh. Of the 30 areas, 26 have been surveyed, with 18 gazetted as Native Communal Reserves (Agriculture) while several other areas are still undergoing the survey process, including one facing objections, he said. 'In the second phase, nine areas have been approved for individual lot surveys, with three areas completed and five others still in progress,' said Len Talif at the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting today, in response to a question from Opar assemblyman Billy Sujang. He also reported that 1,411 land titles have been issued under Section 18 of the Sarawak Land Code. Regarding traditional village land surveys, Len Talif said 10 villages have been approved. Of these, two villages have been fully surveyed, with 415 land titles issued for one of them. 'Surveys for the remaining eight villages will commence soon, subject to the readiness of the land claimants on the ground,' he added. During a supplementary question session, Len Talif emphasised that the effectiveness of the survey process depends heavily on cooperation from the applicants. 'Land claimants must be prepared for their land to be surveyed by identifying and marking boundaries, and by submitting a rough sketch plan along with a list of claimants' names,' he explained. He noted that areas affected by disputes or the absence of claimant presence in the field have experienced delays in the survey process. 'Let us work together to resolve any disputes and disagreements among claimants to ensure the successful surveying of individual lots and the timely issuance of land titles,' he said. On the survey of 'pemakai menoa' and 'pulau galau' (native territorial domain), Len Talif said that Sarawak Bumiputera communities may submit their claims by completing the NTD A form, which is available at the Land and Survey Department counters or can be downloaded from the department's website. DUN Land Survey Len Talif NCR
