Anyi seeks land titles for 60 Ngemah longhouses

The Sarawak government has been urged to consider issuing land titles to more than 60 longhouses in Ngemah whose sites remain state land more than 50 years after residents were relocated under a security resettlement programme.

Ngemah assemblyman Anyi Jana said the issue affected more than 6,000 residents at the Nanga Jagau, Nanga Ngungun and Nanga Tada resettlement schemes.

“Residents in these three schemes want the Sarawak government to issue land titles for their longhouse sites,” he said when debating the Supply (2027) Bill, 2026 during the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) Sitting today (Oct 15).

The settlements were established in 1972 under the Rajang Area Security Command (RASCOM) to protect residents from communist threats and strengthen security.

Anyi said land ownership is among several longstanding matters requiring urgent attention as the settlements struggled to accommodate a growing population.

He called for new settlement areas to ease overcrowding, with families now extending into their third generation.

The expansion would need to be supported by a more organised and safer road network, as the settlements’ original layout no longer suited present needs.

In addition, he also sought better healthcare access at Nanga Ngungun, where a completed clinic pilot project was awaiting handover to the Ministry of Health pending documentation by the Public Works Department (PWD).

“Given its strategic location and the population in Nanga Ngungun and surrounding areas, we also request that a medical officer be stationed there and ambulance services provided,” he said.