KUCHING: The Sarawak government's decision to rescind the compulsory acquisition of Bako land, near here, is not a political gimmick, said Sarawak Deputy Chief Minister Dr George Chan.

Following his meeting with Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud on Wednesday, March 2, Chan said the 3,000 acres of land, which were placed under Section 47 of the Sarawak Land Code for compulsory acquisition, with some of the parcels dating back to 1973, would now be released.

He said the Chief Minister had decided that the state government would rescind the compulsory acquisition of the land and that the legal effect would be that parcels in private ownership would not be taken over by the state government.  

"This is not a election gimmick. This has been discussed a long time ago," he told a media conference at his office here on Thursday.

When asked when the rescinding order would take effect, Chan said: "I called the Land and Survey director this morning and instructed the Land and Survey Department to effect the order as soon as possible."

The Bako land had been frozen for more than 30 years now under Section 47 of the Sarawak Land Code, which is a public notice that the land may be required for a public purposes and could not in the meantime be developed.

Chan, who is also the state's Industrial Development Minister, said the state government would do its best to facilitate development at Bako land by the private sector.  

"However,the development proposed must conform to the approved structure plan, which will be made known to the public soon," he said.

Chan said the area would be developed by the private sector, in accordance to the Economic Transformation Programme where the private sector is to have a more predominant role in the development of the country.  

"The state government believes the private landowners at Bako do have the capability and resources to undertake the successful development of that area and thereby contributing to the economic growth of the Bako region.

"On behalf of the landowners, I would like to thank the Chief Minister for his understanding and his agreement for the private sector to develop the area," added Chan, who is also Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP) president. — Bernama

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