Sarawak has measured more than 1.23 million hectares under its new Native Customary Rights (NCR) land measurement initiative.
Second Minister for Natural Resources and Urban Development Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan said the area was measured under the new NCR Land Measurement Programme from October 2010 to April 30, 2026.
He said the initiative covered about 1,233,192 hectares, or 3,047,217 acres, through perimeter surveys.
“Of the total, about 966,440 hectares, or 2,388,073 acres, had been gazetted as Bumiputera Communal Reserve (Agriculture) under Section 6 of the Sarawak Land Code,” he said in his ministerial winding up speech in the Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN).
He said the measurement work was carried out based on applications from the parties involved.
“Since 2017, the survey has also focused on individual lots for the issuance of land titles under Section 18 of the Sarawak Land Code for areas already gazetted, based on applications and the readiness of land claimants.”
He said that as of Apr 30, 2026, a total of 110,815 individual lots had been measured, involving 132,414 hectares, or 327,261 acres, which had been or would be issued land titles under Section 18.
He emphasised that the land claimants must be present during field surveys, clearly mark their land boundaries and avoid disputes to help ensure the measurement process runs smoothly.
“The Sarawak government remained committed to ensuring the continuation of the programme and would continue to provide the necessary funding, alongside funds received from the federal government.”
Aside from this, Awang Tengah said the government was also expanding the management of water areas through the development of the Marine Cadastre.
“The system manages maritime boundaries, marine spatial data and the rights, restrictions and responsibilities involving the sea surface, water column and seabed.
“The Marine Cadastre will support the blue economy, Sustainable Development Goal 14, marine space claims monitoring, environmental protection and carbon storage initiatives under the Blue Economy Policy and Road Map in PCDS 2030.”
He added that the Marine Cadastre would clarify maritime boundaries to protect Sarawak’s interests, reduce overlapping jurisdictions and integrate land and marine spatial planning into a more comprehensive 3D spatial framework.
“The implementation is being carried out from 2026 to 2028 through cooperation between the Sarawak Land and Survey Department and Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Skudai, Johor.
“The cooperation is aimed at ensuring the administration of marine areas and resources would be more efficient, effective and comprehensive,” he said.
