Demolition in Kg Jimpangah postponed after villagers resist

The Star

22-05-2025

KOTA KINABALU: The demolition of houses in Kg Jimpangah, Beaufort, has been postponed until Sunday (May 26) after villagers refused to leave their homes, forcing authorities and the landowner to delay a court-ordered eviction.
The demolition exercise, which began at 10am on Wednesday (May 21), saw four houses partially torn down before work was halted as several residents remained inside.
Consumers Front of Sabah (CFOS) Secretary General Hashima Hasbullah, who has been assisting the villagers since February, said the landowner agreed to a five-day grace period for the remaining residents to vacate.
"Some of them simply refused to leave. The landowner eventually agreed to postpone the demolition until Sunday to give them time.
The villagers have been informed that Sunday is the last day for them to move out, so I believe by Monday the demolition will resume," she said on Thursday (May 22).
The situation in Kg Jimpangah has drawn widespread attention and public criticism after videos of the eviction went viral on social media, showing villagers crying as excavators moved in.
Hashima said the demolition was based on a court order obtained by the landowner, but the Land and Survey Department (JTU) had sent a letter requesting a delay. Another letter supporting the appeal was also issued by the Chief Minister's Office.
Despite this, she said the final decision lies entirely with the landowner.
"Even with those letters, the power to delay or cancel the eviction is fully at the landowner's discretion because it is a court matter," she said.
Hashima added that villagers only found out earlier this year that the land was no longer theirs when shown legal documents in court.
"These families applied to have the land gazetted as a village back in 1991. They were never told their application was rejected until this year when it was revealed in court," she said.
The British North Borneo Company originally owned the 13.2-acre plot in 1911 before it was transferred to a rubber company. The villagers' ancestors had lived and worked there since the colonial era.
"After Malaysia achieved independence and the British left, they were allowed to remain on the land. No one contested it for decades. That's why they were shocked to learn someone else had obtained title over it," said Hashima.
The land is classified as Country Lease (CL), complicating matters for those seeking native title or village gazettement.
In total, 53 homes and around 200 residents are affected by the eviction notice that was officially received on May 7.
Hashima said she had brought several villagers to meet Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor on May 15, and he had since instructed the Land and Survey Department to find a better resolution.
When contacted, Land and Survey Department director Datuk Bernard Liew confirmed he had been directed to act.
"I was instructed to find a solution to the issue by Cabinet on Wednesday (May 21). However, I can't disclose anything until I have reported to the Chief Minister and Cabinet," he said.
The state has yet to announce its next course of action, while villagers call for a temporary halt to the eviction process until a resolution is reached.