Probe ordered on FMU camps arson
Published on: Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Kota Kinabalu: Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman has ordered an investigation into the torching of two workers quarters in a Forest Management Unit (FMU) concession in Kg Alab Lanas, Sook, last Wednesday.The State Government, he said, is very concerned about the incident that saw 50 villagers marching into the FMU11 licensed area of Bornion Timber Sdn Bhd (BTSB) and setting fire to the workers' dwellings.He advised the villagers to use proper channels if they are faced with any problems and not take matters into their own hands.
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Several villagers torched two workers' quarters within the BTSB FMU licence area claiming that BTSB had encroached on NCR land which they have rights to.The following day, they lodged a report, among others, accusing the company of bulldozing their ancestral burial grounds. They claimed that more than 10,000 acres around the village had been invaded by the company, which included rubber plantations, vegetable, rice and other crops.According to them, there are 638 people in the village who fear that their native land would be confiscated.
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Bornion Chief Operating Officer (COO) Yeo Hock Hian said the company is aware of the villagers' grievances over NCR claims.However, he said the villagers are residing outside the FMU11 licence area adding that as a licensee of the FMU11 area, Bornion are not the owners of the land and neither could they decide on the boundaries of the forest reserve. Yeo said their concerns should be addressed to the proper authorities like Forestry.
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Meanwhile, a discussion on NCR claims was held between Kg Alab residents and Bornion Timber in Sook on Monday.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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