Awang Tengah (centre) reviewing his ministerial winding‑up speech text with Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Urban Development Datuk Len Talif Salleh (left) at the DUN Complex today. – Photo by Chimon Upon
KUCHING (May 20): The Sarawak government is expanding the management of marine areas through the development of marine cadastre surveying, said Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan.
The Second Natural Resources and Urban Development Minister said this system manages maritime boundaries, marine spatial data, as well as rights, restrictions and responsibilities across the sea surface, water column and seabed.
“This thereby supports the blue economy, Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14), monitoring of marine spatial claims, environmental protection and carbon storage initiatives under the Blue Economy Policy and Road Map in the Post Covid-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030,” he told the august House at the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) Sitting here.
He added that the marine cadastre clarifies maritime boundaries to protect Sarawak’s interests, reduce overlapping jurisdictions and integrate land-marine spatial planning towards a more comprehensive 3D spatial framework.
“Its implementation is ongoing for the period 2026 to 2028 through collaboration between the Sarawak Land and Survey Department and Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), Skudai, Johor to ensure more efficient, effective and holistic administration of marine areas and resources,” he said.
Awang Tengah, in his ministerial winding up speech, also touched on the state’s New Initiative Native Customary Rights (NCR) Land Survey Programme, where approximately 1,233,192 hectares or 3,047,217 acres have been successfully perimeter-surveyed from October 2010 until April 30, 2026.
“Of this amount, approximately 966,440 hectares or 2,388,073 acres have been gazetted as Bumiputera Communal Reserve (Agriculture) under Section 6 of the Sarawak Land Code. These survey works are based on applications from the relevant parties,” he said.
He further said that since 2017, surveys have also focused on individual lots for the issuance of land titles under Section 18 of the Sarawak Land Code for gazetted areas, based on applications and the readiness of claimants.
“As of April 30, 2026, a total of 110,815 individual lots have successfully been surveyed, involving an area of 132,414 hectares or 327,261 acres, for which land titles under Section 18 of the Sarawak Land Code have been and will be issued.
“To expedite the surveying of NCR individual lots, land claimants must be present during field surveys, clearly mark their land boundaries and avoid disputes in making claims so that the survey process can proceed more smoothly,” he said.
He stressed that the Sarawak government remains committed to ensuring the continuity of this programme and will continue to provide the necessary funding in addition to funds received from the federal government.
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