Latest news with #SarawakLandCode
Borneo Post
7 hours ago
- Politics
- Borneo Post
PBB Belia Piasau seeks public apology from Nurul Izzah on NCR remarks
Mohammad Aniq says Nurul Izzah's remarks misrepresented legal and policy realities surrounding NCR land, potentially undermining public trust and inciting unnecessary tensions. SIBU (June 28): The Protem Youth Movement of Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) Belia N.73 Piasau branch has called on Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) deputy president Nurul Izzah Anwar to issue a public apology following her recent statements concerning Native Customary Rights (NCR) land in Sarawak. Its chairman, Mohammad Aniq Ashwin Abuzar, said Nurul Izzah's remarks misrepresented legal and policy realities surrounding NCR land, potentially undermining public trust and inciting unnecessary tensions. 'We are compelled to respond firmly and responsibly, given the sensitivities and historical importance of this issue to our indigenous communities,' he said in a statement. Mohammad Aniq stressed that as a prominent leader within the Unity Government, Nurul Izzah bears the duty to speak on national matters with accuracy, maturity, and a firm grasp of the facts — particularly on complex and sensitive matters such as land rights in Sarawak. 'We urge her to refrain from making uninformed remarks and to engage constructively with the Sarawak government and native community leaders before commenting on our internal affairs,' he added. In a recent Free Malaysia Today report, Nurul Izzah had called for the expedition of land surveys and ownership approvals for native customary land in Sarawak, and a halt to the issuance of new licences on disputed land. In view of this, Mohammad Aniq noted that Sarawak's legal and administrative approach to NCR land is grounded in law and upheld by the courts. 'The Sarawak Land Code (Cap. 81) recognises native rights including 'temuda' (cultivated land), 'pulau galau' (communal forest), and 'pemakai menua' (territorial domain) under specific conditions,' he said. 'As of 2024, over 1.5 million hectares of land in Sarawak have been identified or gazetted as NCR land under various categories. This process is overseen by native land registries and involves ground verification, community consultation, and legal scrutiny. 'We, therefore, demand a formal public apology from Nurul Izzah to the Sarawak Premier and the people of Sarawak for her misleading statements,' he added. Mohammad Aniq also noted that this was not the first instance of Nurul Izzah disregarding Sarawak's autonomy and sensitivities. He recalled that in December 2015, she was barred from entering Sarawak following public conduct that contravened the state's interest and legal process. 'Given her recent behaviour, PBB Belia Piasau proposes that an indefinite entry ban be placed on Nurul Izzah until she issues a public apology acknowledging her misstatement. 'Among others, she is to commit to a fact-finding mission in Sarawak, guided by native leaders, legal experts, and state agencies. 'Additionally, she must demonstrate respect for Sarawak's legal framework, policies, and cultural context,' he said, adding that this is not a political retaliation but a necessary safeguard for Sarawak's dignity, public trust, and internal harmony.
Borneo Post
8 hours 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
9 hours 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
Daily Express
2 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Express
Speed up surveys for Sarawak native customary land, Nurul Izzah says
Published on: Friday, June 27, 2025 Published on: Fri, Jun 27, 2025 By: FMT Reporters Text Size: PKR deputy president Nurul Izzah Anwar said that for communities such as the Iban, Bidayuh, Orang Ulu, and Penan, land is more than just a place to live. PETALING JAYA: PKR deputy president Nurul Izzah Anwar has called for the expedition of land surveys and ownership approvals for native customary land in Sarawak, and a halt to the issuance of new licences on disputed land. She said for communities such as the Iban, Bidayuh, Orang Ulu, and Penan, land was more than just a place to live. 'It is their source of livelihood, a place for worship, where they celebrate their customs and raise their families. Most importantly, it is part of their soul and identity. 'I urge that the process of surveying and granting ownership of native customary land be expedited, and that no new licences be issued on land still under dispute,' she said in a statement. Citing veteran advocates like Harrison Ngau and the late Bill Kayong, she said their unwavering spirit must live on. 'This spirit shines through their struggle – never afraid despite pressure, never silent even when sidelined. Their resilience reminds me that this is a fight worth continuing, to defend the native customary rights that form part of Sarawak's soul and history.' Although native customary rights are recognised under federal law and the Sarawak Land Code, Nurul Izzah said only a fraction of such land had been formally surveyed and allowed legal ownership. 'Many remain unresolved. As a result, the majority of indigenous communities are vulnerable to encroachment, forced eviction, and exploitation,' she said. She also criticised the expansion of oil palm plantations and logging activities which she said had come at the expense of these communities. 'Land is leased to large companies without consultation, without consent, and without proper compensation,' she said. While courts have repeatedly affirmed native rights based on ancestral customs and in line with the Federal Constitution and international human rights standards, she said enforcement remained inconsistent. 'This has forced many indigenous people to face serious legal, bureaucratic, and financial challenges just to have their rights recognised. 'All development must receive free, prior and informed consent from the land's original owners, and fair compensation must be given to any affected or displaced community,' she added. Last month, the Sarawak government affirmed its commitment to recognising and protecting legitimate native customary rights over land, in accordance with land laws. Deputy premier Awang Tengah Ali Hasan said that since the New NCR Land Survey Initiative began in October 2010, up to April 30 this year, a total of 1,200,766 hectares had been surveyed perimetrically. 'Of this, around 935,760ha have been gazetted as Bumiputera Communal Reserves (Agriculture) under Section 6 of the Sarawak Land Code. These surveying efforts are based on applications from the communities involved,' he said. Awang Tengah said that since 2017, surveying efforts had also covered individual lots for land titles in gazetted areas where claimants had applied and were ready. He added that as of April 30, 99,438 individual lots had been surveyed, covering 118,749ha, with land titles issued or in the process of being issued. * 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
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
