PPR homes for Tinusa folks
Published on: Friday, January 18, 2019
By: Winnie Kasmir
SANDAKAN: The Sabah State Government is offering Batu Putih People’s Housing Project (PPR) units, near here, to about 180 residents of Kampung Tinusa 1 who have been forced to move from the village on a court order.
Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister, Arifin Asgali , said all parties, including the Government, cannot defy the court order to vacate the 2.07-hectare village area.
ADVERTISEMENT
“When there is a court order, the Government cannot do anything. We have to adhere to the court order and you (villagers) will be transferred to the Batu Putih PPR. This is all the Government can do.
“The State Government has promised to give two PPR units for each demolished house as we were informed that two to three extended families dwelled in each house,” he said at a meeting with the villagers, here, Thursday.
When met by reporters, Arifin said he would discuss with the lawyer, who was declared as the legitimate owner of the land, to postpone the demolition operation of the houses in the village, which was supposed to be carried out on Tuesday.
“This is because Batu Putih PPR is expected to be fully completed in March,” he said.
ADVERTISEMENT
The villagers claimed that there was an overlapping of ownership claims over the village land, with the villages claiming it has native title (NT) status, while the land claimant claimed the land has country lease (CL) status.
However, after several appeals at court, the court’s decision was in favour of the land claimant.
ADVERTISEMENT
Arifin also said he would assist in the request by the residents for land for their new settlement
“I will ask the Land and Survey Department if there is any land that can be gazetted as a village settlement.”
Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
Daily Express Malaysia
