Telipok: The State Government is urged to discuss the problem of land acquisition by the Kota Kinabalu Industrial Park (KKIP) which has not been resolved for up to 30 years now.
Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (Star) Sabah Acting Deputy President Datuk Kapitan Stephen Teo said without the State Cabinet’s decision, the two ministries involved would not issue a final decision to help the residents involved.
“The settlement of land of the villagers of Norowot, Sukoli, Rugading and Malawa involved in the acquisition of KKIP land requires thorough action by the Ministry of Industrial Development and the Ministry of Local Government and Housing,” he said.
Stephen, who is also Star Karambunai Division Chief, said this after attending the JPKK Kg Norowot Dialogue at the Bukit Payung KKIP Hall, here, Saturday.
Kg Norowot JPKK Chairman Robert Silati said the meeting of about 100 residents should involve representatives of KKIP, Tuaran District Council (MDT), Pantai Dalit Assemblyman Datuk Jasnih Daya and Karambunai Assemblyman Datuk Yakubah Khan.
“We will continue this dialogue session even without the presence of authority representatives who have been invited,” he said.
According to Robert, the dialogue was aimed at asking KKIP and MDT to help solve applications for houses, land grants, compensation, cemeteries, maintenance and gate taxes for residents whose lands were included in KKIP but have not been solved for the past 28 years.
Meanwhile, Sabah People’s Protection Association (Pelindung) President Ramli Akim urged Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor to intervene to solve the problems of the residents.
“The existence of KKIP aims to upgrade the lives of residents by providing job opportunities, but the problem of land acquisition must be resolved,” he said.
Ramli pointed out that there is a demand now from MDT to the residents to pay the assessment rate when the ownership of the compensated house has not been given.
On behalf of residents, Ramli asked the Government to speed up the issuance of settlement house grants, settle qualified residents who have not been given houses, pay off land and house compensation, not interfere with the management of residents’ cemeteries and provide adequate facilities in the settlement area.
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