P'pang hill cutting: Panel formed
Published on: Monday, May 25, 2015
Penampang: A committee comprising all relevant departments such as Land and Survey and Environment, among others, has been set up to look into all the hill cuttings in Penampang and approval will be on a case-by-case basis, according to District Officer Luvita Koisun.She confirmed that landowners only have rights to the soil six feet deep. Anything below that belongs to the Government. Hence all the earth harvested from the hills should involve royalty payments.She also reminded all holders of land titles that all lands belong to the Government as their grant shown in the titles clearly state that they are leasing the land and that is why they are paying the quit rent.
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"It is understandable if the poor kampung people do not realise this but for those who bought lands for millions of dollars, they cannot say they can do anything they like on the land," she added.It has been reported that some native lands here are bought by non-natives and developed with commercial buildings without even submitting development plans to the council. Some have even started filling up the natural streams existing in agricultural native lands causing drainage problems.The Public Works Department also faced delays in a highway project when some landowners affected refused to cooperate by leaving obstructions along the road reserve.
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Koisun also reminded that the Government only takes back lands for public purposes, for the benefit of everyone, such as roads, schools and hospitals and compensations are given at reasonable rates.She was asked on these issues after a CSR programme by Giant at the Megalong Supermarket at Donggongon, here, Saturday.
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She thanked the management of Giant for including five families of fire victims in their programme where all were donated domestic and kitchen goods such as mattresses, stoves and food together with shopping vouchers to lighten their suffering.According to Annie Johnny, Assistant Manager of Corporate Affairs, the total donations amounted to RM10,000 equally distributed to the families, four from Kg Kolopis and one from Kg Mogonibung. The accidental fires occurred recently where two invalids or OKUs lost their lives.All donations by the company are channeled through the district Welfare Department which also comes under the purview of the District Officer. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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