Tenom: Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor assured that Sabah Forest Industry (SFI) land in the district will be released and gazetted as village land.
He said several thousand hectares in the company’s forestry concession area have been identified for release so that residents could continue to occupy it legally.
At the same time, he said he would instruct the Land and Survey Department (JTU) to implement the Sabah State Customary Land Service (Pantas) programme in the district.
“This is to settle land that has been occupied and cultivated for a long time by villagers so that it can be measured and issued grant to the owner.
“I stated that we will ensure that several thousand acres in the SFI concession area will be released for villagers in Tenom.
“As well as land that has not been measured. I will ask the JTU Director to implement the Pantas programme so that land that has been cultivated for a long time by villagers is given a grant,” he said at the opening ceremony of the Kemabong Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (Gagasan Rakyat) division annual meeting at Dewan Sri Ontoros, Saturday.
He gave feedback on several proposals submitted by Kemabong Gagasan Rakyat Chief Datuk Rubin Balang related to the interests of the people of the area.
At a press conference afterwards, Hajiji said he would call the company to discuss the proposal to remove part of the SFI land.
Picture shows Hajiji, accompanied by Rubin (right), being greeted by leaders and members on arrival for the PGRS Kemabong Division annual meeting.
