A total of 3,547 subsidiary titles (strata titles) were yesterday handed over to property developers to enable owners of residential or commercial units to obtain their respective grants.

Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal said the grants had been applied for a long time ago and in line with the promise of the new state government headed by the Parti Warisan Sabah, the process of issuing the grant had been expedited.

"Today we hand over subsidiary grants to the developers and then the property developers can apply the land transfer process to buyers of residential or commercial units as soon as possible," he said to reporters after a ceremony for the handing over of the grants and the inauguration of the Unit Perkhidmatan Tanah Anak Negeri Sabah (PANTAS) building as well as the Aidilfitri celebration of the Sabah Land and Survey Department here yesterday.

At the same time, Mohd Shafie said the Land and Survey Department had readied 6,889 land titles throughout Sabah.

"I was informed by the Director of Land and Survey Datuk Safar Untong that the grants were ready to be handed over at any time. I believe many more grants will be processed and issued over the next six months," he said.

Commenting on PANTAS's new building, he said the RM6.9-million building was built since 2017 and has been completed and houses a total of 106 PANTAS field and office staff.

"I hope with the completion of this building, the Land and Survey Department will empower the governance of land and thereby enhancing service delivery to the people," he added.

Meanwhile, Mohd Shafie reminded the public that the signatures of support given by the leaders including his own to the land-related application letters submitted by any individual does not constitute an approval.

"Although I had signed, it that does not mean that the application has been approved, it is just a sign of support so that the relevant parties provide the necessary assistance or attention to the application in accordance with the procedures set out," he said.

He said this in response to allegations that land intrusion in Kampung Likas, here, recently received signature support from the assemblyman of the constituency.