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KIULU: The owner of a restaurant in Kampung Rangalau Lama, along Jalan Tamparuli-Kiulu, denied allegations in a Daily Express report on Feb 26 that his premises is operating illegally.

Janius Lapai, 71, said the roadside restaurant is jointly owned by three others and holds a valid licence issued by the Kiulu District Office.

“The premises had been operating since August 2025 and our business is conducted on a road reserve permitted for small community economic activities, in line with the common practice of roadside stalls along main roads in Sabah,” he said, Sunday.

“The complainant’s allegations are inaccurate and our business area does not encroach on his adjacent private land,” Janius said. 

He also rejected claims of unmanaged waste disposal and foul odour, saying the premises follows proper waste management procedures, including the use of a grease trap, a mandatory requirement for all food premises.

“To date, no official complaints have been received from surrounding residents regarding the issues alleged by the complainant. Our business operations continue as normal with the full support of the local community,” he said.

Meanwhile, a resident, Moroh Biging, claimed the complainant had previously blocked the only access road into the village which greatly affected the 700-odd villagers there.

Moroh said villagers accepted that the access road passed through the complainant’s private land, but noted that residents have used the route since the village was first settled in the 1940s.

“That road has been used since the village was established. 

“Within the village, there is a primary school, a church and a surau. Teachers also use that road and when it is blocked, everyone including school staff had to take a longer alternative route,” Moroh said.

Moroh said appeals to the landowner for continued access had been unsuccessful and petitions submitted to authorities requesting the road be reopened and for the closure notice to be withdrawn had yet to yield any action.

Residents also alleged that the complainant erected concrete curbs to block parking access to the restaurant.

They said the Public Works Department had issued a directive to have the obstruction removed, but the complainant did not comply prompting the restaurant operator to remove it themselves.