The Ministry of Land Development Sarawak was established on 12 July 1985 under Article 9(1) of the Constitution of the State of Sarawak. In 1994, the function of the Ministry was expanded to include the implementation of the Native Customary Rights (NCR) Land development programme in accordance with the New Concept of Development on NCR land.

Following a restructuring, the Ministry was renamed the Ministry of Rural and Land Development Sarawak on 2 January 1998 to reflect the additional responsibility assigned to it which involves the planning, coordination, and monitoring of rural development programmes financed by the Federal Ministry of Rural Development. These programmes incorporate Rural Electrification, Rural Water Supply, Village Roads, and Rural Roads. At the same time the Ministry was also made responsible for implementing the training programme for the rural dwellers. On 1 July 2004, subsequent to a reshuffle of the State's Cabinet, the Ministry of Rural and Land Development was split into two separate entities namely the Ministry of Rural Development and the Ministry of Land Development each headed by a full fledge Minister who is assisted by Assistant Ministers.

To be the leader in the development of the oil palm industry in the State in order to transform Sarawak into the Oil Palm State of Malaysia.

We are committed to provide efficient and effective leadership in the monitoring of oil palm plantation development on both NCR Land and State Land and to provide policy direction on the development of NCR Land into commercial oil palm plantations in order to create employment opportunities in the rural areas, safeguard the interest of both  the landowners and investors in their efforts to optimize returns from the oil plantation development. We are also committed to preserve the environment towards achieving sustainable socio-economic development.

I.             To achieve the State Government's objective of having 400,000 hectares of NCR Land and 600,000 hectares of State Land fully developed into oil palm plantations by    the year 2010,

II.           To create at least 60,000 hectares of NCR ．Land bank・ annually as from 2005 onwards through the creation of approximately 20,000 hectares of NCR ．Land Bank・ per Region,

III.          To facilitate active participation of the rural people in the mainstream of development through NCR Land development,

IV.        To accelerate the creation of employment opportunities in the rural areas and thereby ensuring sustainable source of income in order to raise the standard of living of the rural people and contribute towards poverty eradication,

V.          To conduct field visits to the private sector oil palm plantations to monitor closely the progress of implementation so that at least fifty percent (50%) of the existing plantations are covered annually, and

VI.        To ensure that oil palm plantation industry will enhance a balanced development between the rural and the urban areas.

Formulate Policy, Plan and Monitor Land Development Programme in the State.Monitor Poverty Eradication Programmes. Plan and Monitor development of Plantations and Agriculture estates undertaken by the Sarawak Land Development Board. Plan, monitor and coordinate development of Land held under Native Customary Rights. Provision and Management of Drainage and Irrigation Systems. Plan, coordinate and monitor Development of Peat Soil Regions and Wetland in the State. Keep a ．Watching Brief・ over the operations of FELCRA Berhad and FELDA Berhad in the State.