Schemes for NCL small pockets being fine-tuned

February 1, 2010, Monday
KUCHING: Land Development Minister Dato Sri Dr James Masing said the state government is intensifying efforts to develop native customary land (NCL). He said even the smaller pockets of NCL or untitled land will soon be developed through government schemes. “I have spoken to the Chief Minister (Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud) about land development involving smaller NCL. Indeed we are now fine-tuning the schemes and ways to develop these smaller pockets of NCL,” he said when asked to comment on Dayak Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI)’s query on government schemes for native customary rights (NCR) landowners.

Masing clarified that DCCI president Tan Sri Leo Moggie had probably referred to the federal government agencies when he (Moggie) suggested that “government agencies” study the possibility of allowing NCR landowners to apply for government schemes even though they do not have land titles. Masing said: “He (Moggie) was probably referring to federal government because as far as Sarawak government is concerned we do have schemes to help NCR landowners. We are now fine-tuning schemes in our efforts to help the smallholders.”

During a DCCI function here on Saturday, Moggie said he was worried to see land disputes involving the government and NCR landowners and that there should be a more flexible approach to get more people involved in land schemes.