Kota Kinabalu: Parti Kesejahteraan Demokratik Masyarakat (KDM) President Datuk Peter Anthony wants the State Government to seriously look into the plight of villagers who had recently voiced their frustrations over their native land issues.
He made the call after some 100 villagers from five villages in Nabawan gathered at the Land and Survey Department office in Keningau demanding the State Government resolve the issuance of individual titles for their native ancestral lands.
“The Government should also take immediate action to resolve the issues.
“The Government or related departments should listen to their pleas and consider their applications fairly without favouring anyone.
SPONSORED CONTENT Firefly’s inaugural flight to Sandakan SANDAKAN: Firefly, the low-cost carrier subsidiary of Malaysia Airlines; made its inaugural flight from Kota Kinabalu to Sandakan on Tuesday. Read more “The fact they (villagers) were willing to travel far distances to Keningau to gather peacefully under the hot sun at the Lands and Survey Department shows the matter is serious,” he said in a statement, Thursday.
“I am not siding anyone but as we are all aware, land matters are sensitive issues, what more for villagers who depend on the land as their rice bowl,” he added.
Dressed in native attire, the group marched towards the Keningau Land and Survey Department office at 9am to the accompaniment of traditional music, carrying placards and banners, expressing their grouses.
Several video clips of the gathering were widely shared on social media. One clip also showed some people performing a traditional Murut dance.
The police were present to monitor the situation but no untoward incident was reported.
It was understood the villagers wanted the department to explain why the names of some 100 people from their villages were missing from the list of communal title recipients in Sapulut, close to Indonesia’s Kalimantan border.
Anthony, who is also Melalap Assemblyman, suggested that the Government hold a dialogue session with the villagers to clear the air over the matter.
“Explain clearly to the people but don’t also forget to listen to their plight.
“Because of the sensitivity of land issues, there will be plenty of speculation if there is no face-to-face meeting.
“Also make sure there are no ‘hidden hands’ who intervene in the matter,” he said.
* Follow us on Instagram and join our Telegram and/or WhatsApp channel(s) for the latest news you don't want to miss.
* Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available.