Group appeals against order to vacate land
Published on: Sunday, February 26, 2017
Keningau: Hundreds residing along Mile 8 to 18 of the Keningau-Kimanis highway who have been told to vacate so as to turn the area into a First Class Forest Reserve have appealed to the Government to allow them to stay on. They said they have applied to the Government to allow them to open farms and build homes on the said lands which they claim to have occupied for decades. It was learned that the Forestry Department, through its officer in Kota Kinabalu, Roslan Abdillah, had instructed the communities to move out.ADVERTISEMENT One group of residents headed by JKKK Chairman KK. Alimon Ulantan called for a meeting with villagers to object the department's order.Another group comprising 200 people from various community-based organisations and associations also met few days ago to form a unified protest.Most of the communities claimed that they have been living and earning their livelihood on their respective lands. A community spokesman Dimi Guntob, said the department's order would affect village areas, a Koperasi Pembangunan Desa (KDP) mushroom planting project site and a Chinese temple. ADVERTISEMENT Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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He alleged that several "Yang Berhormats" have applied for lands along the highway stretch and are supportive of the department's order. He also claimed that there have been rumours about the government wanting to offer big companies to carry out tourism-related development projects in some of the areas. - Uhim Wong