Brunei - One-stop agency for land transfer urged

LEGISLATIVE Council member Yang Berhormat Pehin Kapitan Lela Diraja Dato Paduka Goh King Chin (pictured) yesterday queried whether the establishment of a "one-stop agency" could be in place to speed up the process of approvals in transferring or changing ownership of land.

He proposed that the one-stop agency under the relevant ministry could examine applications submitted and make recommendations as to whether requests to change the stipulated conditions in land titles would be granted or not.

During the Eighth day of the Eighth Legislative Council (LegCo) session, YB Pehin Dato Goh suggested after the one-stop agency had processed the applications, they could then be submitted to a relevant higher authority for review.

In response, Minister of Development Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Indera Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Hj Suyoi Hj Osman said the issue had been previously suggested, and it is within government efforts to set a relevant party that will be able to review and make certain approvals.

He added in fact, the Land Department under the ministry serves a similar function to that of the proposed agency, where every application will be examined by certain parties.

"There is no one-stop agency as of now, but there are certain parties within the Land Department that considers this matter and makes approval regarding land titles or transfer or ownership," YB Pehin Dato Hj Suyoi said, adding the ministry is working on overcoming delays of approvals.

Responding to another question by YB Pehin Dato Goh suggesting for transfer of land titles to be carried out through a "zoning system" to avoid impediment, the minister said the issue has been discussed and appropriate action will be taken.

YB Pehin Dato Goh said by introducing the zoning system, the approval process to change the stipulated condition of land ownership will no longer be a problem.

"We also hope this matter will be sped up as a lot of development plans rely on approval on changes to land titles, so we will look in terms of appropriate zoning and so on and from there we will make the relevant approval," the minister said in response.

"We understand the worry expressed by certain parties in waiting, however, a lot of investigation must be done prior to approval of application regardless, this issue will be noted and InsyaAllah the process will be sped up," the minister added.

Another query brought to the house by YB Pehin Dato Goh was how the ministry could streamline the process in transfer of ownership, in the case of inheritance of land from parents to children.

The LegCo member said this should not pose a problem as parents have the right to pass down the property to their children.

"Only if the property is given or sold to another individual, the request for ownership transfer should go through the normal procedures prescribed by the government," he said.

YB Pehin Dato Hj Suyoi responded by saying the ministry is also working on the matter, to review how far the issue of land inheritance can be reconsidered. "So this matter will be noted, and InsyaAllah will be resolved soon."

In his last question, YB Pehin Dato Goh queried the minister whether the relevant authority has reviewed the status of large amount of lands that were used as rubber plantations during the British Residential System, and whether they could be re-distributed for "more beneficial purposes."

The minister said the issue has been examined, and results will be notified to relevant parties for appropriate action.

RACHEL THIEN AND SYED RORY MALAI HASSAN

The Brunei Times

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