KUCHING – The Sarawak government distributed Native Customary Rights (NCR) land titles to 120 landowners in Song district, reinforcing its commitment to securing indigenous land ownership.
The event, held at the Song Community Hall, was led by Deputy Minister for Urban Planning, Land Administration and Environment, Datuk Len Talif Salleh, and Katibas Assemblyman Lidam Assan.
A total of 175 titles were granted under Section 18 of the Sarawak Land Code to residents of Sipan, Sesawa, Teluk Jambu, and Sungai Katibas. These documents provide perpetual ownership, legal recognition, and exemptions from annual quit rent and premiums.
Additionally, 22,638 hectares across Beguang, Embuau-Lajan, and Katibas Hilir were gazetted as communal reserves under Section 6 of the Land Code, benefiting 40 longhouse chiefs.
Lidam Assan described the event as a historic milestone for Song and Kapit, emphasizing the state’s dedication to validating legitimate NCR claims.
Since the launch of the NCR New Initiative in 2010, over 1.2 million hectares have been surveyed statewide, with 938,230 hectares gazetted as communal reserves and more than 33,000 individual titles issued.
Datuk Len Talif Salleh noted that the program, initiated under the Government Transformation Programme (GTP), aims to resolve boundary ambiguities and prevent encroachment.
He urged landowners to leverage agricultural opportunities through the Ministry of Food Industry, Commodities and Regional Development (M-FICORD) rather than selling land for short-term gains. The ceremony concluded with souvenir presentations and a group photo session.