The Federal Government has agreed to relinquish its rights over land under the Rajang Area Security Command (RASCOM), ti the Sarawak state government.
The decision enables the Sarawak Government to assume ownership and management of the former RASCOM land, ending decades of federal administration over areas established during the state’s security operations in the 1970s.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the move reflects the Federal Government’s commitment to resolving long-standing issues involving Sarawak in the spirit of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) and cooperative federalism.
He said the transfer would allow the Sarawak Government greater flexibility in planning and developing the land for the benefit of local communities and the state’s long-term economic development.
The RASCOM area was established during the communist insurgency to coordinate security operations across parts of central Sarawak, particularly around Rajang, where federal authorities assumed control over strategic land and assets.
With the security situation having stabilised over the years, discussions between Putrajaya and the Sarawak Government have focused on returning ownership and administrative control of the land to the state.
The move is expected to benefit local communities by enabling the state to implement development initiatives tailored to regional needs while ensuring more efficient land administration.
The transfer of the RASCOM land forms part of a broader series of measures undertaken by the Federal Government and Sarawak to implement MA63 commitments, including greater state participation in development planning, infrastructure, education, healthcare and the management of state assets.
