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RANAU: A long-standing land occupation dispute that stretched for nearly two decades has finally come to an end after an Indonesian and his family vacated a rented house sitting on native land in Kampung Tanah Merah.
The family moved out on July 28, following years of discussions, legal processes and enforcement efforts by local authorities. The house they had occupied was demolished the same day under the supervision of the relevant authorities.
Kampung Tanah Merah Village Head Mairin Koraman described it as the culmination of nearly 19 years of persistent efforts involving village leaders, the District Office, police, the Native Court and community representatives.
MairinAccording to Mairin, village leaders attempted to evict the occupants in 2017 after it was established that they were residing on land belonging to a local villager without proper authorisation.
However, the initial attempt was unsuccessful, and the matter remained unresolved for years, believed due to political interference.
“When I was appointed Village Head in 2015, I continued pursuing the case because it involved encroachment onto land owned by a Kampung Tanah Merah resident.
Together with the villagers, we referred the matter to the Native Court before seeking assistance from the District Office and other government agencies,” he said.
Following the necessary legal procedures, the District Office issued instructions for enforcement action.
DanialMairin expressed appreciation to Mukim Tanah Rata Native Chief and Kampung Tudangan Village Head Danial Gelida, who coordinated the support of village heads and native leaders throughout the operation.
He said the dispute showed how difficult it could be to regain possession of premises once occupants had stayed for an extended period.
“Once someone has occupied a property for many years, resolving disputes can become extremely complicated,” he said.
The Ranau District Office had previously issued circulars instructing village heads to monitor the presence of foreign nationals within villages and to ensure that houses owned by local residents were not rented out or occupied without proper approval.
He said village heads have a responsibility to monitor tenancy arrangements and ensure that any rental involving outsiders complies with village regulations and administrative procedures.
“Every tenancy arrangement should be reported to the Village Head. Property owners should obtain written approval, supported by proper documentation, including the tenant’s identification details and an agreed rental period,” he explained.
Danial pointed out that cases involving foreign nationals married to local citizens require careful attention because while certain legal rights may exist through marriage, residence within a village must still comply with local customs, administrative procedures and community regulations.