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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