Not for outsiders: Minister
Published on: Sunday, May 26, 2019
By: Yayasan Dalimpos
NABAWAN: A second KDM State Minister has reiterated that lands in indigenous areas should neither be applied for nor go to those who originate from elsewhere.
State Infrastructure Development Minister, Datuk Peter Anthony (pic), assured that the State Government would resolve land issues in each district immediately with the cooperation of the Land and Survey Department.
ADVERTISEMENT
He said land ownership is important for the people especially the Kadazan, Dusun and Murut community who inherited the land from their ancestors, and that it should not be applied for or owned by outsiders with self-interest.
“Land rights of the Pensiangan people which have been taken and applied for by outsiders since the previous government administration should be looked into and the current State Government as well as the Department will resolve this so that it can be returned to the people,” he said.
Besides customary land issues, they would also discuss and resolve communal land in the near future for the benefit of all, he said, when met in conjunction with the Nabawan district-level Kaamatan Celebration held at the district’s community hall, Saturday.
A similar stand was made by State Rural Development Minister, Datuk Ewon Benedick, last week. He said outsiders would be barred from applying for land within the Kadamaian constitutency.
ADVERTISEMENT
“The decision is final and I have conveyed it to the Land and Survey Department and the Kota Belud District Office.
“I am compelled to do this after I was told there are people who are not from this area trying to apply for land that has been segregated by Sabah Parks for the benefit of the people of Kampung Kiau,” Benedick was quoted as saying.
ADVERTISEMENT
Meanwhile, Anthony who is also the State Kaamatan Main Committee Chairman, said, district chiefs, village heads and Village Community Management Committee Council (MPKK) appointed by the government have also been reminded not to be in cahoots with undocumented immigrants on the issue of identification cards.
“We will not hesitate to dismiss those found conspiring with undocumented immigrants because it is it wrong and damaging to the government,” he said.
He said the State Government has no authority to issue identification documents and only those at Federal level can do so, adding that the State Government never engaged in such projects. He claimed it was merely the opposition’s way of confusing the people and making them lose trust in the current administration.
In line with the Kaamatan theme, he called on all Kadazan, Dusun, and Murut community to strengthen relationship, practise mutual respect between races and religions despite having opposing ideology and religious beliefs.
He also reminded leaders against getting involved in politics that brings chaos and motivated by self-interest.
Also present were Permanent Secretary to the Rural Development Ministry, Fredian Gan En Siong, and Political Secretary to the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law) Martin Tommy.
Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
Daily Express Malaysia
Some 2,000 people attended the celebration which featured traditional cultural dance performances, Sugandoi, lucky draw tickets and Unduk Ngadau, among others.