KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah State Assembly has approved the removal of 16,729 hectares from 10 forest reserves to legalise 40 villages in seven districts, benefiting over 12,000 residents.
Assistant Minister Datuk Nizam Abu Bakar Titingan said these villages, some existing since 1985, deserve legal recognition and land security.
Most of the land (15,978 hectares) comes from the Sipitang area, aiding 36 villages in Sipitang, Tenom, and Kemabong. Smaller areas in Pitas, Ranau, Kalabakan, Tawau, and Sebatik will also gain village status, with some land used for border security and public facilities.
Despite the reductions, Sabah’s total forest area drops only 0.47pc, from 3.575 million to 3.558 million hectares.
The government will replace the removed land with areas of equal size and quality, aiming to meet its goal of protecting 30pc of Sabah’s land under the 2018 Forest Policy.
The Bill also sets the stage for these villages to be officially gazetted under the Land Ordinance, ensuring legal, welfare, and development benefits for the communities.
