Lands and Surveys Dept needs to improve services
I refer to the recent tabling of the State’s 2015 Budget by the Chief Minister of Sabah, Musa Aman on 7 November 2014.
I noted with interest when the Chief Minister highlighted in his speech that revenue collection will determine the Key Performance Index (KPI) of the Lands and Surveys Department which I believe is evidenced with its ability to collect revenues by 110% in 2013.
Such remarkable feat is truly commendable and I congratulate all the hardworking officers and staff at Lands and Surveys Department and all the District Land Offices for all their hardwork.
However, while collecting revenues is of prime importance for the State’s economic well-being, there should also be emphasis for efficient services rendered to individuals or organizations.
As we all know, the Lands and Surveys Department (including respective District Land Offices) are being tasked to ensure that proper and legitimate land transactions were being done. These land transactions include transfers, charges, leases, caveats, auctions, land searches and many other more.
I wish to highlight my concern on these land transactions taking place in this department that I believe requires concrete action from the State Government.
There have been numerous complaints by the ordinary people, legal firms and bankers pertaining to the inefficiency surrounding the Lands and Surveys Department relating to the issuance of memorial numbers for any land transactions taking place and land title search.
The first-timers who seek financing with banks to purchase houses will most definitely be left in total exasperation to know that their loan documentation has been completed but their financiers are still unable to release the loans because the memorial number or land search certificate is not yet issued. It is indeed very stressful for the lawyers, legal clerks and even bank loan officers to explain the situation to the laypeople who understandably be reacting angrily with the prospect of being penalized for late payment.
This had in turn caused the proliferation of ‘runners’ who are supposedly able to secure memorial numbers or extract the land search certificate within a shorter time period. And this inefficiency had been going on for more than a decade now!
The LaDess system introduced by Lands and Surveys Department not so long ago was also unable to overcome this inefficiency. In fact, it merely acted as the ‘nombor giliran’ issuer for all the legal firms. While hundreds of officers and staffers at Land and Surveys Department and District Land Offices are working hard around the clock to meet higher bulk of work loads everyday, perhaps it is high time for the State Government to really find a solution to end this inefficiency.
For a start, there should be a computerized issuance of memorial number and actual registration on the land titles could made later. The same goes with land searches procedure; it is a pity when a legal firm paid the RM20 being land search fee but ended up certifying another firm’s photocopied search certificate! With the 110% revenue collected by the Lands and Surveys Department, would it not be more sensible to apportion some of the figure to increase the efficiency of the department and save everyone all the headaches?
Kenny Chua, Penampang PKR deputy chief.