He was overjoyed when SUPP president Tan Sri Dr George Chan yesterday handed him a letter confirming his land ownership.
Huge relief: Thien showing the land title which he received. “My family moved to this kampung when I was only a few years old.
“I remembered my father trying many times to apply for the title from the department but everytime he went to check, they told him he must apply again.
“It took us 58 years of waiting until today,” he exclaimed.
Thien has five children, the youngest is in her 30s.
Asked how he felt with the title in his hand, he said he and his family felt relieved and he thanked SUPP for helping.
Thien was one of 400 people who obtained their land titles yesterday in Miri.
Land issues most difficult to solve, says Dr Chan
MIRI: Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr George Chan admits that land claims were the most difficult and complex to solve, even for Barisan Nasional politicians in very high positions in the Government.
“Even we politicians cannot get things done instantly even if we want to with regards to solving land claims issues.
“We cannot fulfil every demand and need instantly.
“There are times when we need the rakyat to be patient and understanding. It takes a lot of time and effort to get things done. There are a lot of complex processes that the government departments had to go through.
“I am glad that the kampung people have been very patient and understanding with regards to the land problems they faced,” he told the people of Kampung Pujut Tanjong Batu and Kampung Senadin when presenting some 400 land ownership letters yesterday.
Dr Chan said land ownership was a matter close to the heart of everyone in Sarawak.
He explained that the Land and Survey Department took years to verify, process and approve applications for land titles because of the tedious processes involved.
“Even the issuance of permits and licences require stringent processing, what more to say matters relating to ownership of land,” he said.
Dr Chan appealed to the people in the villages not to be swayed by Opposition claims that the government was not really sincere in wanting to give them land titles.
Senadin incumbent Datuk Lee Kim Shin said Barisan was not only looking into resolving the land woes, but also trying very hard to overcome the problems related to water supply and roads in the villages.
He said efforts were also being made to mitigate flash floods that affected many villages.
