(Kuching, Jan 5) After a series of twists and turns, several landowners in Batu Kawa have finally received the long-awaited extension of their land deeds. Today, Sarawak DAP Chairman, Stampin MP, and Padungan State Assemblyman Chong Chieng Jen brought good news to the landowners by personally delivering the land deeds, approved by the Land and Survey Department, marking the successful culmination of over two years of efforts in defending landowners' rights!
With the Chinese New Year just about three weeks away, the landowners who received their deeds today can finally breathe a sigh of relief and joyfully prepare for the upcoming Lunar New Year.
On his way to the landowners' homes, Chong Chieng Jen explained the entire story via a Facebook live broadcast. The land in question, located in Hulu Den, measures over an acre and is co-owned by several landowners. These lands have been passed down from grandparents to their children, and some landowners are siblings who built their own homes on sections of land allocated by their father. Some landowners may have sold portions of the land to new owners during this period.
He explained that in the past agrarian society, it was common for a piece of land to have several siblings' names in suburban areas like Batu Kawa. This meant that one land deed could have multiple landowners, each building their own homes on sections of land privately divided among them. Some have lived there for decades.
He noted that the land deeds for these Batu Kawa landowners were originally set to expire in December 2035. In early 2022, the landowners applied to the Land and Survey Department for an extension, only to be rejected based on the regulation that "only one house is allowed per land deed designated for agricultural use." Having more than one house violated land code ordinances, hence their extension application was denied.
Chong explained that under the current land code, if a land deed extension is not approved when it expires, the land reverts to the government without any compensation to the landowners.
As the looming crisis approached, one landowner sought Chong's help in December 2022. He and his assistant visited the landowners to understand the situation. In early 2023, Chong wrote to the Land Department to advocate for the landowners.
Highlighting an outdated government policy, Chong raised the landowners' issue in the Sarawak Legislative Assembly meeting in May 2023. He thanked Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah for sincerely listening to their concerns and announcing that the government would approve extensions for land with more than one house. This breakthrough offered hope for the landowners.
Although Awang Tengah announced the policy change, the Land Department delayed processing the applications. To address this, Chong again raised the issue during the legislative meeting in November 2023, prompting the department to approve the extensions on November 22, 2023.
On December 13, 2023, Chong delivered the approval documents to the landowners for signing, allowing the Land Department to process the extensions. Regrettably, one landowner passed away before receiving the good news. The process was stalled as the deceased’s land transfer required documentation by the executor of the estate.
After a six-month wait, on July 27, 2024, Chong returned with the re-approved documents for signing. However, one landowner residing in Johor had to receive and return the documents by mail, delaying the process further.
Finally, after much effort, Chong received approval from the Land Department, and met the landowners to hand over the deeds in person, sharing in their joy of having their land rights secured.
The landowners expressed gratitude to Chong for his unwavering support in defending their land rights and extending their deed terms, thus preventing their land from reverting to the government.
Chong thanked the landowners for their courage in bringing the issue to the Legislative Assembly, prompting the government to amend outdated policies, thus benefiting others facing similar issues and aiding all of Sarawak.
"Thanks to your case, the government has now revised outdated, unpopular land policies, making it possible to approve extensions for land with multiple houses. This highlights how crucial good policies are. A well-thought-out policy facilitates the renewal of land deeds, whereas a poor policy can hurt many. Your efforts have helped many. I also thank Awang Tengah for considering my points in the Assembly and addressing landowners' concerns, benefiting Sarawak's people."
Conversely, the leaders of the SUPP merely protect unreasonable, outdated, and unpopular policies, asking people to accept and pay for such policies without voicing for change. Some even reportedly suggest more absurdly to demolish additional houses to comply before applying for an extension.
For the DAP, Chong emphasized that any unsuitable policy causing inconvenience and lacking compassion necessitates bold advocacy for change. They are determined to fight for rightful amendments.
During the entire process, Chong noted a remaining regret that while the land renewal fee was only RM200 previously, the Sarawak government quietly reclassified rural agricultural land as urban land in June 2022. This change inflated the renewal fee to RM5,000 per acre, a 25-fold increase.
This poses significant financial burdens on landowners with tens of acres of inherited land. Lacking funds for renewal, they might have to sell part of their land to afford it or risk forfeiting it to the government without compensation.
Chong expressed confusion about areas without roads, such as inside Batu Kawa and Selangau, being categorized as urban. Some landowners must pass through others' land to access their own, yet they're classed as urban land.
He pointed out that current land policies often inconvenience people. For example, the need for all landowners' signatures on extension documents is challenging for those outside Kuching or even overseas or in cases where families haven’t processed inheritance documents due to a deceased landowner. All these factors complicate the signing process.
Therefore, he concluded the land renewal process should be streamlined to facilitate deed renewals, emphasizing the DAP's stance on automatic renewal at expiration for a comprehensive resolution of the issue.
Regardless, Chong emphasized that Sarawak DAP stands with the people, tirelessly advocating for more reasonable, people-friendly land policies.
Fittingly, at the beginning of the new year, Chong remarked it was an auspicious start for the landowners receiving their deeds, humorously remarking they could now take a look at their deeds whenever convenient, provoking laughter all around.
On his way to the landowners' homes, Chong Chieng Jen explained the entire story via a Facebook live broadcast. The land in question, located in Hulu Den, measures over an acre and is co-owned by several landowners. These lands have been passed down from grandparents to their children, and some landowners are siblings who built their own homes on sections of land allocated by their father. Some landowners may have sold portions of the land to new owners during this period.
He explained that in the past agrarian society, it was common for a piece of land to have several siblings' names in suburban areas like Batu Kawa. This meant that one land deed could have multiple landowners, each building their own homes on sections of land privately divided among them. Some have lived there for decades.
He noted that the land deeds for these Batu Kawa landowners were originally set to expire in December 2035. In early 2022, the landowners applied to the Land and Survey Department for an extension, only to be rejected based on the regulation that "only one house is allowed per land deed designated for agricultural use." Having more than one house violated land code ordinances, hence their extension application was denied.
Chong explained that under the current land code, if a land deed extension is not approved when it expires, the land reverts to the government without any compensation to the landowners.
As the looming crisis approached, one landowner sought Chong's help in December 2022. He and his assistant visited the landowners to understand the situation. In early 2023, Chong wrote to the Land Department to advocate for the landowners.
Highlighting an outdated government policy, Chong raised the landowners' issue in the Sarawak Legislative Assembly meeting in May 2023. He thanked Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah for sincerely listening to their concerns and announcing that the government would approve extensions for land with more than one house. This breakthrough offered hope for the landowners.
Although Awang Tengah announced the policy change, the Land Department delayed processing the applications. To address this, Chong again raised the issue during the legislative meeting in November 2023, prompting the department to approve the extensions on November 22, 2023.
On December 13, 2023, Chong delivered the approval documents to the landowners for signing, allowing the Land Department to process the extensions. Regrettably, one landowner passed away before receiving the good news. The process was stalled as the deceased’s land transfer required documentation by the executor of the estate.
After a six-month wait, on July 27, 2024, Chong returned with the re-approved documents for signing. However, one landowner residing in Johor had to receive and return the documents by mail, delaying the process further.
Finally, after much effort, Chong received approval from the Land Department, and met the landowners to hand over the deeds in person, sharing in their joy of having their land rights secured.
The landowners expressed gratitude to Chong for his unwavering support in defending their land rights and extending their deed terms, thus preventing their land from reverting to the government.
Chong thanked the landowners for their courage in bringing the issue to the Legislative Assembly, prompting the government to amend outdated policies, thus benefiting others facing similar issues and aiding all of Sarawak.
"Thanks to your case, the government has now revised outdated, unpopular land policies, making it possible to approve extensions for land with multiple houses. This highlights how crucial good policies are. A well-thought-out policy facilitates the renewal of land deeds, whereas a poor policy can hurt many. Your efforts have helped many. I also thank Awang Tengah for considering my points in the Assembly and addressing landowners' concerns, benefiting Sarawak's people."
Conversely, the leaders of the SUPP merely protect unreasonable, outdated, and unpopular policies, asking people to accept and pay for such policies without voicing for change. Some even reportedly suggest more absurdly to demolish additional houses to comply before applying for an extension.
For the DAP, Chong emphasized that any unsuitable policy causing inconvenience and lacking compassion necessitates bold advocacy for change. They are determined to fight for rightful amendments.
During the entire process, Chong noted a remaining regret that while the land renewal fee was only RM200 previously, the Sarawak government quietly reclassified rural agricultural land as urban land in June 2022. This change inflated the renewal fee to RM5,000 per acre, a 25-fold increase.
This poses significant financial burdens on landowners with tens of acres of inherited land. Lacking funds for renewal, they might have to sell part of their land to afford it or risk forfeiting it to the government without compensation.
Chong expressed confusion about areas without roads, such as inside Batu Kawa and Selangau, being categorized as urban. Some landowners must pass through others' land to access their own, yet they're classed as urban land.
He pointed out that current land policies often inconvenience people. For example, the need for all landowners' signatures on extension documents is challenging for those outside Kuching or even overseas or in cases where families haven’t processed inheritance documents due to a deceased landowner. All these factors complicate the signing process.
Therefore, he concluded the land renewal process should be streamlined to facilitate deed renewals, emphasizing the DAP's stance on automatic renewal at expiration for a comprehensive resolution of the issue.
Regardless, Chong emphasized that Sarawak DAP stands with the people, tirelessly advocating for more reasonable, people-friendly land policies.
Fittingly, at the beginning of the new year, Chong remarked it was an auspicious start for the landowners receiving their deeds, humorously remarking they could now take a look at their deeds whenever convenient, provoking laughter all around.