Ranau land issue can only be resolved after probe
Published on: Wednesday, October 01, 2014
RANAU: The land issues in Kg Malinsou, Kg Wayan and Kg Sinurai in Ulu Sugut can only be addressed once the Land and Survey Department completed their investigation, said Assistant Minister of Local Government and Housing, Datuk Joachim Gunsalam.Joachim, who is also Kundasang Assemblyman, said he is still waiting for the report on problem-solving."In early April, I have met its Director in respect of the case and he has ordered his staff to investigate the validity of the complaint and identify the actual areas that are being cultivated by the locals there.
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"However, before finishing their investigation, the villagers told the Department staff not to proceed," he said.As a result, Joachim said the staff obliged and only returned on September 22 to complete the direction given by the Director in April.Speaking through an e-mailed statement on Monday, he said that the land has been applied for by former Beluran Assemblyman, Ajad Oyong including an area covering Kg Malinsou in Ulu Sugutat in early 1970s."The land was later inherited by his son who then sold it to a company registered in Peninsular Malaysia. The land applied for was about 2,000 acres, but only 1,200 acres was approved after exempting the areas that are already cultivated by the villagers.
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"People still say that they already cultivate most of the land which was given the approval," he said.Joachim said the land is approved in the LUC meeting in Beluran before the land administration moved to Ranau.
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"The company had come to cultivate the land earlier this year, but was blocked by residents in Malinsou, Wayan and Sinurai, claiming Native Customary Rights (NCR) Land being with the reason they have cultivated the land with rubber trees.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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