PBDS wants the state government to disclose the progress of surveying NCR land under Section 18 of the Sarawak Land Code

KUCHING, Oct 21 2026: Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS) has urged the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) government to disclose a complete, transparent, and up-to-date information regarding the progress of surveying Native Customary Rights (NCR) land, as well as the issuance of individual land titles under Section 18 of the Sarawak Land Code.

It said NCR land is more than just figures and statistics, stressing that it represents ancestral heritage, a source of livelihood, security of land tenure, and the foundation for economic development opportunities for the Dayak community and other indigenous groups throughout Sarawak.

"Although the government has announced that over 1.2 million hectares of NCR land have undergone perimeter surveying, the public has the right to know how much of these areas have proceeded to individual lot surveying, culminating in the actual issuance of individual land titles under Section 18," it said in a statement.

The party also asked GPS government to name the areas that have NCR land been surveyed, if it is prepared to publish a comprehensive list of the NCR areas that have been surveyed across Sarawak, and specifying the divisions, districts, sub-districts, and villages involved.

It said such information must distinguish between areas where perimeter surveying has been completed, areas gazetted as Native Communal Reserves under Section 6 of the Sarawak Land Code, areas currently undergoing or having completed individual lot surveying, and areas where individual land titles have been issued under Section 18.

The party also asked the government to disclose the total areas of ​​NCR land that have been surveyed at each location, breakdown of the total area of ​​Native Customary Rights (NCR) land that has been surveyed, categorized by division, district, and village, with figures provided in both hectares and acres.

"Out of the approximately 1.2 million hectares of NCR land reported to have undergone perimeter surveying, what is the total areas for which individual land titles (grants) have been issued under Section 18?

"The GPS government must clarify the distinctions between land that has undergone perimeter surveying, land that has been gazetted under Section 6, land that has been surveyed into individual lots, and land that has actually received individual land titles (grants) under Section 18," PBDS said.

It said according to a report by the Sarawak Public Communications Unit (UKAS) dated October 9, 2026, as of August 31, 2026, approximately 1.246 million hectares of NCR land had undergone perimeter surveying, while 975,413 hectares had been gazetted under Section 6.

"Regarding the surveying of individual lots, a total of 112,232 lots covering an area of ​​134,615 hectares have been surveyed. Of that total, 39,973 lotscovering 59,707 hectares—have received land titles under Section 18.

PBDS requests that the government verify these figures and provide a detailed breakdown by location, including the number of pending applications, lots that have been surveyed but have yet to receive titles, and claims still awaiting the survey process.

It also asked when will the government complete the entire NCR land survey programme and the issuance of individual land titles under Section 18

PBDS said the indigenous community should not be left in a state of uncertainty, unaware of when their legitimate customary land claims will be surveyed and officially documented.

However, it said it acknowledges that the surveying of NCR land is a technical and legal process requiring the careful verification of claims and land boundaries. 

"Nevertheless, the challenges involved in this implementation make transparent reporting and the establishment of measurable targets all the more critical," PBDS said.