SIBU: The Sarawak government has handed out compensation totalling RM1.47mil to 140 individuals whose land had been acquired to pave the way for a water supply project here.
Deputy Minister for Urban Planning, Land Administration and Environment, Datuk Len Talif Salleh said the compensation was for land acquired for the Rural Water Supply Project (BALB) in the Nibong Tada Area (Sites A, B, C, D & E).
“A total of 195 compensation cheques will be handed out today to all the landowners,” he said in his speech at the cheque handover ceremony at Sibu Jaya Community Hall here on Thursday (Feb 15).
At the event, 61 longhouse chiefs received the Native Customary Rights (NCR) gazetted under Section 6 of the State Land Code, involving Block D Maong/Kelimut, Machan area with an area of 3,673 hectares.
Len said that from 2010 to December 31, 2023, the Sarawak Land and Survey Department has successfully surveyed approximately 1,130,015 hectares (2.79 million acres) throughout the state.
“As of December 31, 2023, a total of 82,251 individual lots have been successfully surveyed, involving an area of 100,033 hectares (247,182 acres).
“Out of the number, a total of 28,704 lots have been issued land titles under Section 18 of the State Land Code, covering an area of 38,030 hectares (93,972 acres).”
He said the government will continue the New NCR Land Measurement Programme as long as it is needed, and the government guarantees the rights of the people to NCR land.
“NCR land surveying does not impose any charges; everything is free as long as NCR land claimants can prove their validity according to the law.
“The government will issue land titles under Section 18 of the State Land Code, which are not subject to land tax, exempted from premiums, with a perpetual tenure.”
Also present were Sibu Land and Survey Department superintendent Mohamad Muazziz Othman and others.
