KUCHING: Villages with unresolved Native Customary Rights (NCR) land issues should be prioritised to expedite surveying and documentation efforts and safeguard customary land ownership.
Deputy Minister of Transport (Air and Road) Datuk Dr Jerip Susil said the matter was among the key issues discussed when the Dayak Bidayuh National Association (DBNA) Penrissen Branch paid a courtesy call on him at his office in Baitulmakmur Building 1 recently to brief him on its planned programmes for 2026.
“DBNA should compile a list of villages that have yet to complete the NCR land surveying and documentation process and organise briefing sessions for affected residents,” he said in a press statement yesterday (June 11).
Dr Jerip said proper documentation and greater awareness among landowners were crucial in facilitating the process and enabling communities to better protect their customary land rights.
The Mambong assemblyman added that close cooperation between community organisations, village leaders and government agencies would help resolve longstanding land-related issues faced by rural communities.
The meeting also reviewed DBNA Penrissen Branch’s programme calendar for 2026, which includes five major initiatives aimed at benefiting local residents.
Among them is the Lonjakan Saujana SPM 2026 Motivation Programme, scheduled for October, which will continue to serve as a platform to help Form Five students prepare for the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination.
Dr Jerip also expressed support for a Drug Abuse Awareness Programme planned for November and encouraged organisers to work closely with strategic partners.
He suggested collaborating with the National Anti-Drugs Agency (AADK), Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), Malaysian Prisons Department and other relevant agencies to maximise the programme’s impact.
He said the initiative should particularly benefit youths in the N.19 Mambong constituency by raising awareness of the dangers of drug abuse and helping prevent their involvement in such activities.
Meanwhile, Dr Jerip revealed that funding allocation and tender processes for the construction of the DBNA Penrissen Branch Community Centre in Bayur had been approved and issued.
The project is expected to commence by the end of the year, reflecting continued cooperation between community leaders and stakeholders in advancing social, educational and cultural development within the Mambong constituency.
