GOVT URGED TO REVIEW LAND GRANT OWNERSHIP, PREMIUM RENEWAL ISSUES

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 24 (Bernama) -- Two Sarawak senators today urged the government to give due attention to the issue of land grant ownership and the high rates of land premium renewal fees to protect the affected rural residents.

Senator Abun Sui Anyit said the federal government and the state government need to consider relaxing the land grant ownership requirements for the implementation of development and housing programmes, especially in the interior areas of Sarawak and Sabah.

He emphasised that although the government provides various noble housing initiatives for the poor and the younger generation, the strict requirement of land title ownership to build houses has become the main obstacle for residents in rural areas, most of whom still do not possess such documents.

bootstrap slideshow

Clearly, many residents in the rural areas have succeeded in the initial application for infrastructure projects such as the construction of access roads to longhouses, drainage systems and house sites, but these projects often stall at the implementation stage when the government demands land grants as a mandatory requirement.

"We in the interior indeed do not have land grants. Therefore, I request the ministries to consider easing this requirement. Don't let the housing programme provided be inaccessible to us in the rural areas just because of technical grant issues," he said.

He said this while debating the Motion of Thanks for the Royal Address in the Senate today.

Meanwhile, Senator Roderick Wong Siew Lead suggested that the federal government discuss with the state government regarding the rate of land premium renewal payments to ensure that the established classification guidelines are clear and transparent.

He said this is important to protect farmers and owners of inherited land in rural areas because previously, there was an issue of a sudden increase in land premium renewal fees in a rural area in Sarikei, Sarawak.

"Before the rates are increased or the categories are changed, there must be a briefing and consultation session as this will reduce shock and dissatisfaction.

"An independent review mechanism should also be introduced. When there is a dispute over classification or payment rates, the people need an appeal channel that is easy, quick and not burdensome, in addition to the need to implement new rates gradually," he said.

Besides land, issues related to tackling corruption by increasing civil servants' allowances and strengthening the integrity of enforcement agencies were also discussed.

Senator Datuk Salehuddin Saidin proposed, among others, that the government review the salary structure and special allowances for public servants, particularly for those responsible for law enforcement and those who interact directly with the community.

"We need to consider a step to restructure salaries or at least provide a higher cost of living allowance to civil servants in critical departments so that they do not feel desperate enough to get involved in corruption for the sake of survival," he said.

Taking the neighbouring country, Singapore, as an example, Salehuddin explained that the provision of high salaries and allowances to enforcement officers has proven to significantly reduce elements of corruption in that country.

Senator Datuk Dr Mustafa Musa, on the other hand, suggested that the Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission Act 2009 be amended to allow the Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission (EAIC) to also regulate the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), the Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency (AKPS) and local authorities (PBTs).

"Additionally, we need to consider the need for cross-programmes to be implemented among all EAIC supervisory agencies so that public servants placed in the EAIC can work more efficiently. Remember, the downfall of an empire is not only due to the weakness of greedy political ambitions but also because of the compromised values of integrity," he said.

The Senate session will continue tomorrow.

-- BERNAMA