Kota Kinabalu: DAP Sabah erected its 4th and 5th batu sumpah oath stone in Kg. Iban, Merotai, Kalabakan and in Kg Kondopi, Matunggung, Kota Marudu. The first one was erected at Kg Kionsom, Inanam followed by Kg Mempulut in Pensiangan and Kg Moyog, Penampang. In Kg. Iban, the elders unveiled the stone followed by worship and prayers whereas in Kg. Kondopi, the stone was unveiled by DAP Chairman and MP for Kota Kinabalu Jimmy Wong and DAP Secretary and Assemblyman for Kapayan Dr Edwin Bosi. Prior to that, the community in Kg Kondopi prayed at the erection of the oath stone.
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Dr Edwin in his speech said without the Batu Sumpah there would be no Malaysia, pointing out that the Malaysian government gave three guarantees to the indigenous people of the Interior in exchange for their support and loyalty to Malaysia. The guarantees encompass the basic demands of the natives namely freedom of religion in Sabah, land under the jurisdiction of the Sabah Government and that native customs and traditions must be respected and preserved by the government.
Dr Bosi who is Chairman of the DAP Sabah Native Consultative Council stressed to the people of what the guarantees mean. "Has the Government fulfilled these guarantees, he asked? DAP Parliamentary leader, Advisor and MP for Gelang Patah Lim Kit Siang witnessed both ceremonies. The other DAP Sabah leaders present at Kg. Iban were MP for Sandakan Stephen Wong Tien Fatt, Sri Tanjung Assemblyman Chan Foong Hin and Merotai DAP Chief Robert Penggai. Other leaders present at Kg. Kondopi were DAP Kota Marudu Chief Charles Magadap, DAP Interior chief Peter Saili, DAP Inanam Chief Edward Liau and Ustaz Abdul Kahar Abdul Rahman, Deputy PKR Chief Kota Marudu.
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Kit Siang spoke about the failure of the government to look after the welfare of the people of Kg. Landou numbering about 300 households. They have occupied about 1800 acres and toiled the land before Malaysia Day. Earlier on the village was supported with basic infrastructure by the government and the villagers never failed to support and return the government to power.
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Unfortunately, about five years ago their land was taken away by the government. Their 40-year of building a home and livelihood were shattered and is now starting all over again picking up the pieces in Kg Iban "he said.
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He said this went against one of the guarantees in the Batu Sumpah where land is under Sabah government and it is their obligation to help the indigenous people to own land. He said he will write to the Chief Minister to ask him to return the Kg Landou land back to the community. Kit Siang said it was sad to hear that there are many land applications waiting to be processed in Kota Marudu and Kg Kondopi. He said land is an integral part of a native life. In view of this, proposed a campaign "land for the landless" which he launched in Kg. Kondopi.
