KOTA KINABALU: Instead of enjoying the wealth of toiling on the soil in Kampung Serudong Laut, Tawau, the villagers there are instead faced with a dilemma after discovering that they are not the owners of the land.
What saddens the villagers most was that the land they worked so hard on to eke out a meagre living are supposed to be theirs based on Native Customary Right (NCR).
They brought their plight to the attention of Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) Vice President cum Tawau Member of Parliament Datuk Chua Soon Bui who assured them of her assistance to get to the bottom of the matter.
According to the villager’s representative, Nalatan Simpoh, villagers of Murut descent will be coming to the state capital to attend the party’s celebration of the Sabah’s 49th Independence day celebration.
“Our presence at the celebration reflects our support to SAPP’s contention that Sabah’s independence is 49 years,” Nalatan said adding that they are grateful to SAPP for taking them under its wing.
The group is expected to arrive in the state capital on the eve of the celebration, Aug 30, he said.
Nalatan pointed out that that the villagers are sad to have lost their land and they do not want to lose Sabah’s history too.
“It is not right for the Government to say that we are celebrating 55 years of independence… we all know that Sabah was granted independence by the British in 1963, not 1957,” he stressed.
The Government, he added should set the record straight so as not to confuse the younger generation as to Sabah’s history.
Pic shows group of villagers led by Nalatan holding placards in protest against land abuse..
Datuk Chua Soon Bui is seen at the back.
Posted by wikisabah
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