Kota Kinabalu: Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman said a total of 62 Communal Titles totalling 83,552 acres involving 8,115 beneficiaries in 155 villages have been issued as of May 31 this year.He said that according to the government's policy in issuing the titles, the beneficiaries are not required to enter into any joint venture with any government agency as a prerequisite to acquire the titles.
"Joint ventures to develop Communal Lands are allowed only if both parties, beneficiaries and developers, agreed and subject to approval by the Chief Minister. I am also happy to say that the names of those selected will be listed as beneficiaries in the titles," he said.
Musa also said that one of the purposes of the Communal Title is to protect the interests the natives on government lands and to settle native land claim issues.
"For example, a Communal Title which was issued in Lalampas with a total area of 9,120 acres was originally a settlement for the Minokok people. Some of them have moved to other villages or other districts.
"There are 16 villages in the area and each village chief has demanded land rights in the area.
"Through dialogue sessions conducted between the village chief and Department of Land and Survey, it was decided that the matter be resolved through the issuance of Communal Title. The title covers 9,120 acres involving 1,022 beneficiaries from 16 villages," he said.
Musa added that in order to ensure the land is developed effectively, a joint-venture with Sabah Land Development Board (SLDB) was struck to use the land for oil palm plantation.
"Since 2011 till April 2013, SLDB has developed 1,380 hectares of oil palm with development cost of RM19,894,248. Other than that, SLDB has also paid advance dividends to beneficiaries totalling RM1,478,000 since 2011," he said.
Musa was replying to questions from Tamparuli Assemblyman Datuk Wilfred Bumburing and Bongawan Assemblyman Mohamad Alamin.
Musa explained that all beneficiaries would receive equal portions of the land and divided into lots.
This is done so that the next generation would be able to inherit the lands.
"Priority will be given to villagers who live in the village. It happened before, where people who have lived in a certain area for years suddenly became homeless when their lands were given to giant companies.
"Today under the BN government, we will not let this happen. Most of the cases happened to hardcore poor in remote villages.
These are the people who will be given priority to receive land, to be aided, so that they will have jobs, generate income, receive dividends," he said.
He also said that the lands are given to the villagers with the hope that they will not sell the lands and lamented that previous governments have also given lands to the people, but to their dismay, today many of the lands are owned by foreigners.
"We do not want this to happen because lands are static, they cannot expand, cannot multiply.
When we run out of land, we will be in trouble. That is why we give these lands to them so they can keep the lands and pass it on to their children," he said.
Several train-vehicle collisions have occurred over the years along the stretch causing injuries and deaths.
Three years ago, a fuel tanker and a train collided at one crossing barely 200 metres from yesterday's incident that has since been closed. eight people were injured in that crash.
