MIRI, Oct 23 2026: Senator Abun Sui Anyit has urged the Sarawak government and the Land and Survey Department to clarify the actual number of land titles issued under Section 18 of the Sarawak Land Code, the number of outstanding applications, the true cost of the surveying programme and the timeline for resolution for eligible holders of Native Customary Rights (NCR) land.
He said the state government should not simply announce the total areas of land that have been surveyed, but also to disclose how many individuals have received their land titles and how many are still waiting.
"The Dayak customary land rights must be translated into certainty of ownership, legal protection, and genuine economic opportunities," Abun said when responding to the concern expressed by Kapit Member of Parliament Alexander Nanta Linggi on the difficulties faced by Dayak smallholders in meeting land documentation requirements and gaining access to the palm oil market.
According to Dayak Oil Palm Planters Association (DOPPA), there are approximately 58,000 independent oil palm smallholders in Sarawak risk losing market access if they fail to comply with the requirements of the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), particularly those cultivating Native Customary Rights (NCR) land without formal land documentation.
Abun Sui, who is also an NCR land rights lawyer, questioned after nearly 16 years after the implementation of the NCR Land Survey Programme, many Dayak customary landowners still lack individual land surveys and titles under Section 18 of the Sarawak Land Code? Who should be held accountable.
He said according to a statement by Deputy Premier Awang Tengah Ali Hasan, as of September 30, 2026, a total of 1.249 million hectares of NCR land had undergone perimeter surveying, while 112,711 individual lots had been surveyed for the purpose of issuing Section 18 land titles.
He noted the Sarawak government has allocated RM40 million while the Federal Government has approved RM15 million under the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP), with RM2 million to be disbursed in 2026.
"However, these survey figures do not address the core issue as to how many lots have actually received their land titles, how many applications remain pending, and why are eligible landowners still left waiting?" he asked.
He said he has repeatedly emphasised that the Sarawak government must expedite the issuance of Section 18 land titles for NCR land where rights have been established and legal requirements met without delaying the process through unnecessary procedures.
"If the absence of land documentation hinders Dayak smallholders from meeting market demands, then this issue is not merely a problem for the smallholders themselves; it also concerns the effectiveness of land administration and the implementation of government policy," Abun Sui said.
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