Ranau landslide: 'Owner's land reclamation approval expired'

The Ranau Assistant Collector of Land Revenue (ACLR) had given approval with conditions to the owner of the land implicated in Sunday’s landslide at KM 96.7 of Kota Kinabalu-Sandakan Road to do land reclamation on top of the hill involved.

District Officer Yassin Ibrahim said the land owner had applied to do reclamation works on the hill from the District Office in October and it was approved on condition that he had to get authorisation (as part of the approval’s requirements) from the Public Works Department (PWD) and Environmental Protection Department (EPD). However, the approval concerned has already expired, he said.

“I have checked with the PWD and they said there was no authorisation given. I am not sure if he went to get the permission or not because in the letter it clearly said that the landowner need to get an authorisation from both the said departments,” he said, when contacted Tuesday.

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Yassin said the opening up of land was not the first and it was carried out on a small scale but would leave it to the EPD to investigate.

“I cannot reveal who is the landowner and we should let the EPD to investigate on the matter,” he said, when asked.

EPD Director Vitalis Moduying, when contacted, said investigations are in progress.

Meanwhile, Ranau residents in the vicinity of the landslide are advised to temporarily evacuate the area for their safety. The advice came from Ranau Police Chief DSP Sammy Newton.

Three alternative routes are suggested for light vehicles heading to Kundasang from Ranau namely, Kg.Kibbas–Kg.Mohimboyon–Kundasang Lama–Pichai Roundabout, Kg Semuruh–Kg.Kinandusan–Kundasang Lama–Pichai Roundabout and Kg Pinausok–Kg Kouluan–Kg.Cinta mata–Kundasang.

While those (light vehicles) heading to Kota Kinabalu from Sandakan can take either the ranau – kg kibbas – kg mohimboyon – kundasang – kota kinabalu (sandakan ke kota kinabalu) or the kota kinabalu – kundasang – kg mohimboyon – kg kibbas – ranau stretch.

Vehicles weighing over five tonnes from the east coast or Kota Kinabalu, are advised to take the Jalan Ranau-Tambunan towards Kota Kinabalu route.

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Heavy machineries including express buses heading towards Ranau and the east coast are advised to take the Jalan Kota Kinabalu – Tambunan – Ranau stretch before heading towards the east coast or the Kota Kinabalu – Kota Marudu – Ranau stretch before heading to the east coast.

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