The land laws in Sarawak do not give landowners sufficient assurances that their land is secure and can be renewed anytime before expiry, said Wong Ho Leng (DAP-Bukit Assek) in the state legislative assembly yesterday.

"Our laws on land ownership must be reviewed," added Wong, who is also state DAP chairperson.

Landowners must have the assurance or 'peace-of-mind' of their properties, he said, adding that land ownership must be free of financial burden and uncertainty in order to speed up growth of development in both urban and rural areas.

Speaking on the motion of thanks to the Head of State who officiated the opening of the assembly sitting on Monday, Wong was referring to the widespread concerns about tens of thousands of landowners throughout whose leaseholds, mostly for 60 years, are about to expire and that many of such leaseholds may not be renewed or if renewed they would be required to pay hefty premiums.

More than wealth symbol

Violent Yong (DAP-Pending) who also spoke on the same subject earlier said the leases should be automatically renewed without any payment of renewal premiums.

The subject of expiring leases was one of the issues believed to have contributed to the defeat of many BN-Supp candidates in the last state election.

Wong said land ownership constitutes more than a symbol of wealth.

"It is also a manifestation of one's constitutional and fundamental rights to property. It is also an empowerment of one's dignity," he added.

As at December 2005, 171,157 land titles with 60 years or less had been issued representing 43% of the total number of land titles issued was 402,652 in Sarawak.

Between 2010 and 2025, 144,434 land titles will expire, out of the 171,157 issued.

According to Wong, Sabah has few 60-year land leases.

"There is no leasehold renewal problem yet," he said, adding that on the contrary there is a gloomy picture in Sarawak concerning land ownership.

Premium burden passed on

He said the state government's policy in not allowing automatic renewal or extension of land leases before expiry will burden all landowners and their future generations.

"When a person passes on, land is passed to the next generation.The burden is also passed on to them to pay premium in order to get the lease term extended," he said.

The DAP leader said he could not see the logic in not allowing automatic extension of land leases before expiry and without paying hefty premiums.

He said only confidence in government policy and security in land tenure would ensure proper and efficient economic development.

He added that it was no use telling the people the government is a caring one and will let them pay for the renewal premiums by 10 instalments over 10 years when the sum is an exhorbitant one.

"A caring government will not pierce the shallow pockets of the people. After all, there is no reason why these payments (renewal payments) are necessary.

"No one pays the dowry another time, 60 years after marriage," Wong said.

"The logic is that you pay for the price of the land only once. After that you must have peace of mind," he added.