Uphold Oath Stone guarantees on native land rights: DAP
Published on: Friday, September 04, 2015
Kota Kinabalu: DAP Sabah reminded the government to uphold the guarantees engraved on the Oath Stone or "Batu Sumpah" on land matters in the State. DAP Sabah Native Consultative Council Chairman Dr Edwin Bosi said it is clear that land issues are under the jurisdiction of the Sabah government but the government's land policy must give priority to the indigenous people. "This is because Malaysia would not be formed if the natives did not support its formation. "For the indigenous people, the guarantees made on an the oath stone and marked with the blood from livestock should never be broken. They believe bad omen will befall on the party that breaks the agreements," he said.ADVERTISEMENT Bosi, who is also DAP Sabah Secretary, said he is saddened to hear so many complaints on land issues, in particular NCR land that were taken by the government and turned into forest management unit (FMU). "I like to refer to the case of the 22 villages in the Tumalasak area in Pensiangan inside the FMU 8 Idris Hydraulic. Their application to the government for 17,000 hectare of land to be excised from FMU 8 fell on deaf ears. "More than 900 people lived in Tumalasak. They have proof of NCR through their elderly citizens, fruit trees, villages and graveyards. ADVERTISEMENT "Based on the information I received, the oldest man who lived in the area was the late Limbung Baling, a Murut who was already 57 years old in 1965," he said. "The villagers also provided photo evidence of the village, fruit trees and burial jars in graveyards in 1905 and beyond."
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Bosi said other villagers from Kg Bigor A, B and C, Kg Tonomon and Kg Bukokok had also asked him for assistance. They want the government to stop Mutiara Eramas Sdn Bhd from destroying their NCR land, rubber trees and gravity water. "I was informed that their NCR land is engulfed by a communal title Sapulut 4." He appealed to the government to give meaning to its slogan "People First" and not just as a rhetoric. "In the first instance, the people in Tumalasak provided proof of their NCR land. In the second case, the villagers do not want the communal title but want to live under NCR on their own free will. A communal land to be developed by a company is not what this indigenous people want." Bosi said he and other members of the Native Consultative Council will be visiting Pensiangan soon to meet up with the people. They will also visit the affected villages and gather information on their plight, adding that he will bring up his findings to the Sabah Assembly when it sits on November 2015. Bosi, who is also Kapayan Assemblyman, said he was saddened to hear the testimonials of the people of Tumalasak and Sapulut 4 during the launching of a programme on "Land for the Landless" by the DAP Sabah Native Consultative Council in Keningau, Aug 31. The programme was launched by DAP National Acting Chairman Tan Kok Wai which was attended by more than 150 people from the interior. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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Bosi said the presence and support of Tan and the launching of this programme indicates the commitment of DAP towards ensuring the success of the programme. DAP Sabah leaders who were present at the function were Chairman-cum-Kota Kinabalu MP Jimmy Wong, Sandakan MP Stephen Wong, Sri Tanjung Assemblyman Chan Foong Hin, Kapayan Assemblyman Dr Edwin Bosi, Lawrence Piki, Tan Lee Fatt, Ginger Phoong, Edward Liau, Adrian Lasimbang, Peter Saili, Atama Katama, Zaiton, Clare Tuanek and Florence Lim.