Latest news with #LandandSurveyDepartment
Borneo Post
28-05-2025
- Politics
- Borneo Post
Perimeter surveys completed on over 1.2 mln ha NCR land as of April 30, says Awang Tengah
Land and Survey Department personnel conduct an NRC land perimeter survey in Sri Aman. — Bernama file photo KUCHING (May 28): A total area of approximately 1,200,766 ha or 2,967,093 acres of the Native Customary Rights (NCR) land have been successfully surveyed by perimeter under the New Initiative NCR Land Survey Programme from October 2010 until April 30 this year. Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan said from that figure, around 935,760 ha or 2,312,263 acres have been gazetted as Bumiputera Communal Reserve (Agriculture) under Section 6 of the Sarawak Land Code. 'These surveying works are conducted based on applications from the relevant parties. 'Since 2017, the focus has also included the surveying of individual lots for the issuance of land titles under Section 18, specifically in gazetted areas, based on applications and the readiness of the claimants. 'As of April 30, 2025, a total of 99,438 individual lots covering 118,749 ha or 293,429 acres have been successfully surveyed, and land titles have been or will be issued under Section 18,' he said during his ministerial winding-up speech at the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) here today. He said to expedite the surveying of individual NCR land lots, claimants must be present during fieldwork, clearly mark their land boundaries, and avoid disputes to ensure a smoother process. 'The Sarawak government is committed to ensuring the continuity of this programme and will continue to allocate the necessary funding, in addition to funds received from the federal government,' added Awang Tengah. Awang Tengah Ali Hasan lead NCR land survey
The Star
22-05-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Demolition in Kg Jimpangah postponed after villagers resist
KOTA KINABALU: The demolition of houses in Kg Jimpangah, Beaufort, has been postponed until Sunday (May 26) after villagers refused to leave their homes, forcing authorities and the landowner to delay a court-ordered eviction. The demolition exercise, which began at 10am on Wednesday (May 21), saw four houses partially torn down before work was halted as several residents remained inside. Consumers Front of Sabah (CFOS) Secretary General Hashima Hasbullah, who has been assisting the villagers since February, said the landowner agreed to a five-day grace period for the remaining residents to vacate. "Some of them simply refused to leave. The landowner eventually agreed to postpone the demolition until Sunday to give them time. The villagers have been informed that Sunday is the last day for them to move out, so I believe by Monday the demolition will resume," she said on Thursday (May 22). The situation in Kg Jimpangah has drawn widespread attention and public criticism after videos of the eviction went viral on social media, showing villagers crying as excavators moved in. Hashima said the demolition was based on a court order obtained by the landowner, but the Land and Survey Department (JTU) had sent a letter requesting a delay. Another letter supporting the appeal was also issued by the Chief Minister's Office. Despite this, she said the final decision lies entirely with the landowner. "Even with those letters, the power to delay or cancel the eviction is fully at the landowner's discretion because it is a court matter," she said. Hashima added that villagers only found out earlier this year that the land was no longer theirs when shown legal documents in court. "These families applied to have the land gazetted as a village back in 1991. They were never told their application was rejected until this year when it was revealed in court," she said. The British North Borneo Company originally owned the 13.2-acre plot in 1911 before it was transferred to a rubber company. The villagers' ancestors had lived and worked there since the colonial era. "After Malaysia achieved independence and the British left, they were allowed to remain on the land. No one contested it for decades. That's why they were shocked to learn someone else had obtained title over it," said Hashima. The land is classified as Country Lease (CL), complicating matters for those seeking native title or village gazettement. In total, 53 homes and around 200 residents are affected by the eviction notice that was officially received on May 7. Hashima said she had brought several villagers to meet Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor on May 15, and he had since instructed the Land and Survey Department to find a better resolution. When contacted, Land and Survey Department director Datuk Bernard Liew confirmed he had been directed to act. "I was instructed to find a solution to the issue by Cabinet on Wednesday (May 21). However, I can't disclose anything until I have reported to the Chief Minister and Cabinet," he said. The state has yet to announce its next course of action, while villagers call for a temporary halt to the eviction process until a resolution is reached.
Daily Express
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Express
State steps in to halt Kg Jimpangah land dispute
Published on: Tuesday, May 20, 2025 Published on: Tue, May 20, 2025 Text Size: Rynnalto shows the Chief Minister's letter directing the Land and Survey Department to resolve the dispute. KOTA KINABALU: The State Government has stepped in to address a long-standing land dispute involving 300 villagers in Kg Jimpangah, Beaufort, who have lived on a 13.2-acre CL-status land for about 70 years. The land, sold to a company in 2005, includes 53 homes and public facilities. Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor instructed the Land and Survey Department on May 16 to find a solution. This follows an appeal from Kg Jimpangah Action Committee Chairman, Rynnalto Elsther, who said the department requested a postponement of the High Court-issued eviction, scheduled for May 21. However, the landowner has yet to respond and appears determined to proceed with the eviction. Villagers are urging for a delay to allow the State to resolve the dispute. Advertisement * Read full report in tomorrow's print paper or log in or sign up for e-paper and premium online news access. * Follow us on Instagram and join our Telegram and/or WhatsApp channel(s) for the latest news you don't want to miss. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
New Straits Times
20-05-2025
- Politics
- New Straits Times
Proposed Sarawak law sets RM1 million fine for rock smuggling
KUCHING: Anyone caught transporting rocks out of Sarawak without a valid licence from the Land and Survey Department could face a fine of up to RM1 million and a jail term, under proposed amendments to the Sarawak Land Code. Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hassan, who tabled the bill today, said the insertion of Section 32AA into the Land Code aims to close a regulatory gap. The amendment proposes penalties ranging from a RM100,000 to RM1 million fine, up to five years' imprisonment, or both. The bill is currently at the second reading stage in the state legislative assembly. The original provision only prohibited the removal of rock materials without lawful authority. "Where the original provision only prohibited the removal of rock materials without lawful authority, the amended section now also includes their extraction and transportation. This ensures that all stages of handling, from on-site removal to off-site transit, requires proper licensing," Awang Tengah, who is also the Second Minister for Natural Resources and Urban Development, said. He added that the law, if passed, will have a new subsection that introduces a legal presumption of guilt for anyone found in possession of rock materials. That, Awang Tengah said, makes enforcement more effective. He said after the amendments, courts would be required to order a person convicted of the illegal removal of rock materials to pay the government a sum of at least 10 times the royalty or payments due, with amounts recoverable as civil debt. Another key feature of the amendment is the introduction of a section which provides a formal mechanism for the registration of wakaf or religious endowment lands in the land registry. This amendment empowers individuals and Majlis Islam Sarawak to apply for such registrations and extends similar provisions to other religions that have equivalent concepts. Awang Tengah said the intent of the section "marks a progressive and inclusive step forward, reflecting Sarawak's commitment to safeguard the rich diversity of religious faiths within its multicultural society." Awang Tengah said that to strengthen the state's enforcement capabilities, Section 209 has to be amended so as to "provide enhanced penalties for the unlawful occupation, cultivation, and clearing of state land." Currently, the offence carries a penalty of up to RM500,000 in fines or a jail term of up to five years. The same penalty applies to offences involving land subdivision and development without proper approval. Under the proposed amendments, the fine could increase to RM3 million, with an additional daily penalty of RM5,000 for continuing offences. Awang Tengah said amendments to the Land Code involve 24 sections, along with the introduction of three new sections, covering key areas of land management and land administration, legal interpretations, enforcement mechanisms, and digital transformation. He said it was structured into four key categories, each addressing essential aspects of Sarawak's evolving governance framework. "These categories include changes in functions, procedures, and work processes; updates to definitions and policies; enhancements to enforcement and compliance measures; and the integration of technological advancements to modernize land management and land administration." The amendments, he added, also aim to streamline operations, simplify procedures, and standardise processes in alignment with digital service delivery initiatives aimed at supporting the Post Covid-19 Development Strategy 2030 (PCDS 2030) and the Sarawak Digital Economy Blueprint 2030. "The provisions introduced through this Bill are intended to strengthen Sarawak's land governance framework by updating current administrative practices and clearer policy direction.
Borneo Post
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Borneo Post
Fazzrudin: Wakaf provision in Land Code Amendment purely administrative, applies to all faiths
Fazzrudin speaking during today's State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting. – Ukas photo KUCHING (May 20): Tupong assemblyman Dato Fazzrudin Abdul Rahman has defended the Land Code (Amendment) Bill, 2025 against claims that it introduces religious doctrine into Sarawak's secular laws, stressing that the wakaf-related provisions are purely administrative and apply across all faiths. Speaking during the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting today, Fazzrudin, who is also the Chief Political Secretary to the Premier of Sarawak, responded to concerns raised by Padungan assemblyman Chong Chieng Jen, who had earlier questioned the inclusion of Islamic endowment (wakaf) provisions in the Bill. Fazzrudin clarified that the amendment does not aim to introduce religious ideology into the Land Code, but to address practical issues in the administration and registration of land designated for religious and charitable purposes. 'If YB for Padungan had read the Bill carefully, it is clear that the amendment strictly pertains to land matters under the State List in the Federal Constitution. 'The wakaf clause is to facilitate land administration by the Land and Survey Department, and it applies not only to Islamic wakaf, but also to other religions with similar endowment practices,' he said. He also explained that land designated as wakaf is traditionally used for public benefit, such as houses of worship, educational institutions, welfare centres, and other community-building initiatives. However, the lack of a proper legal framework had led to administrative delays and confusion. 'We fully support and welcome the noble intentions of donors, both individuals and organisations, who wish to dedicate land for the public good. 'But until now, administrative hurdles have made it difficult for these intentions to materialise,' he said. Fazzrudin said the amendment would help streamline the registration of wakaf and endowment land, reduce legal disputes, and give authorities better clarity to plan developments surrounding such land without compromising its original purpose. 'The amendment gives legal clarity to land dedicated for building mosques, churches, temples, schools, or health clinics, ensuring that the donor's original intent is honoured and protected,' he said. He added that the amendment reflects the Sarawak government's ongoing commitment to inclusive social development, in line with the Post Covid-19 Development Strategy 2030 (PCDS 2030), particularly its strategic pillar on social inclusivity. 'Many of us in this august House have witnessed how wakaf land can become vibrant centres for community empowerment. But we must also ensure its sustainability, so future generations can continue to benefit. 'This reform ensures that land contributed in the spirit of public service is not left in legal or operational limbo, but instead given proper space and dignity within our physical development plans,' he said. Concluding his speech, Fazzrudin said the amendment reflects Sarawak's values of mutual respect, legacy, and social responsibility. 'Land is not merely a commodity as it is a legacy. With this amendment, we can ensure that wakaf and endowment lands become lasting beacons of community upliftment. Their essence lies in paying it forward,' he said. DUN sitting fazzrudin abdul rahman Land Code (Amendment) Bill lead wakaf
