Plea to consult YBs before any action is taken
Published on: Wednesday, September 17, 2014
Tenom: The issue of indigenous people encroaching into forest reserves here has been solved following a three-hour dialogue between the Forestry Department, District Office, police and representatives of the people and Kemabong Assemblyman, Datuk Rubin Balang. The dialogue at the district police station also resolved that the enforcement of laws by the Forestry Department on the so-called encroachers "was too drastic and some times inhumane".Speaking to reporters after chairing the dialogue, Rubin said it was held in a cordial manner and that it was agreed by all that any "wrongdoings" of the natives must first be referred to the three elected representatives in the area.ADVERTISEMENT "We want the Forestry Department to refer the matter to the three elected representatives here first (himself, Melalap Assemblyman Datuk Radin Malleh and MP Datuk Raimie Unggi) before action is taken so that we can try to find a solution."If we fail to resolve the problem with the Government then we will leave it to the Government or Forestry Department to take action based on the existing laws," he said.Rubin agreed that Forestry Director Datuk Sam Mannan was also right to say that his department did nothing wrong because the department was taking action based on the laws.However, he said if Mannan was in his position facing the sentiment of people who could not understand the policy and procedures of the government Mannan could understand the dilemma faced by elected representatives like himself.ADVERTISEMENT Rubin also claimed that the natives have been staying in Imahit, Sipitang and Tomani long before they were gazetted as forest reserves during colonial times.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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According to him, this too had complicated the situation and therefore difficult to make them comply with the requirements of the government.
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He also claimed that all the flat land of 13,500 acres had been taken away by the then British Government to be turned into a concession plantation while the natives, especially Muruts, were left with no other place but the hilly jungle that has now become forest reserves.