SIPITANG: The Gabungan Rakyat Sabah-Barisan Nasional (GRS-BN) government needs to take drastic action in resolving the issue of Sabah Forest Industries (SFI) workers’ salary arrears and land acquisition.
Parti Warisan Sipitang Chief Abdul Aziz Taip said this following a land acquisition notice issued by the Sabah Land and Survey Department to SFI on Sept 5.
He said the said land has workers and local residents who have to vacate their homes, causing them to lose their main source of income.
“They have been given a maximum three months from the date of the first gazette on July 28 to vacate their homes. This means they are required to vacate no later than October 27.
“We want the intervention of Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor by prioritizing the interests of the workers and residents involved,” he said.
Aziz also said the issue of unpaid salaries of SFI workers has been going on for a long time and now on top of that they are facing eviction.
“The door to negotiation and discussion should not be closed at all.
“The SFI issue is a continuing legacy since the days of Umno and Barisan Nasional (BN).
“Only the State Government under Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal took a very proactive step in trying to save SFI,” he said.
