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The Star
22-05-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Demolition in Kg Jimpangah postponed after villagers resist
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.
The Star
21-05-2025
- The Star
Beaufort villagers face uncertainty as long-standing land dispute escalates
KOTA KINABALU: A long-standing land dispute in Kg Jimpangah, Beaufort took a tense and emotional turn today after four houses were demolished while villagers wept outside their homes, fearing more will follow in the days to come. The incident has drawn widespread attention and criticism after videos of the demolition went viral on social media, showing residents in tears and shouting for help as excavators tore through wooden homes. Consumers Front of Sabah (CFOS) secretary-general Hashima Hasbullah said that tensions escalated between the landowner and the community in February after the landowner allegedly acted rudely towards the villagers. Hashima said many of the villagers have lived on the land for generations, dating back to when their grandparents worked as rubber tappers for the British Borneo Para Rubber Coy Ltd. 'When the British left, they allowed the former workers to continue living there. These families have been here since before Merdeka,' she said. Efforts to secure the land began as early as 1991, when villagers applied to have the 5.34ha site gazetted as a native settlement. The application was never approved, despite several follow-ups. Over the years, the government built and maintained public infrastructure in the area, including roads, electricity, piped water, and a community hall — which was upgraded to a mini hall in 2021. However, in 2023, the Land Use Committee (LUC) rejected the gazettement application. Around the same time, the landowner began taking steps to assert ownership of the land. Most of the 300 villagers rely on odd jobs, work in the private sector, or are low-ranking civil servants. Many have never lived anywhere else. Hashima said several villagers have been arrested or investigated over the years for defending the land. A lawyer previously representing them later withdrew, leaving them unrepresented in court. A woman breaks down in tears while watching her house being demolished in Kg Jimpangah. 'So when the eviction notice was served on May 7, and again today, we came in to monitor and help ensure things remained peaceful, without provocation,' she said. Hashima said she personally brought a group of villagers to meet Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor on May 15 to appeal for government intervention. 'The Chief Minister has personally requested the Lands and Surveys Director to seek an amicable resolution, and we understand steps are now underway. Thus, we ask for some compassion and discretion from the landowner. Since the state has promised to act, give it a little time,' she said. Hashima also said she was disappointed that no elected representatives were present on Wednesday (May 21) to help manage the situation. Beaufort is located about 90km south of Kota Kinabalu. One of the villagers, David Ondu, said he was bracing for his house to be next. 'We really didn't expect this to happen. We thought the government had stepped in after we met the Chief Minister. But now four houses are gone, and our turn might come tomorrow. 'What can we do? We're slowly starting to empty our homes,' he said. The dispute intensified earlier this month when five villagers were arrested under criminal mischief laws for allegedly trespassing and damaging property at the Mini Hall Kg Jimpangah. Villagers said they had only changed the lock and entered to clean the hall, believing it was public property. The Beaufort District Council later confirmed that the hall falls under the jurisdiction of the local Village Development and Security Committee (JKKK), and the charges were dropped on July 6 after the village committee's legal team sent clarification to the police. Separately, 15 villagers are being investigated under the Sedition Act after a video showing the landowner's vehicle nearly hitting a villager went viral online. The land is classified as Country Lease (CL) and was reportedly sold to a company in 2005. Villagers have called for a temporary halt to the eviction while the state government works on a resolution. However, no response has been received from the landowner. Meanwhile, Warisan vice-president Terrence Siambun condemned the demolition, describing it as 'inhumane and cruel even if it is carried out legally'. 'The GRS government often says 'Rumah Kita, Kita Jaga', but what we are seeing is destruction and betrayal. That slogan now feels like an empty promise used only to win votes,' he said. He also questioned the absence of leadership on the ground. 'This should not and cannot happen no matter what the legal justification is. The people of Kg Jimpangah deserve better,' he said.
Daily Express
15-05-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Express
Regular checks to be conducted along Pan Borneo stretch in Kunak
Published on: Thursday, May 15, 2025 Published on: Thu, May 15, 2025 By: Ibrahim Tabir Text Size: Some of the damages along the Kunak-Tawau route. KUNAK: Regular checks will be conducted along the federal road stretch used by motorists on the Pan Borneo Highway here to monitor and repair structural damage as needed. A spokesperson for Work Package 17 (WP17) assured that inspections will cover KM7, KM8 and beyond along the Kunak–Tawau route. Advertisement The assurance came during a site visit on Thursday, where aged road sections were observed to have cracks and potholes. The spokesperson said WP17 had already fully resurfaced stretches at KM5 and KM6 of Jalan Kunak–Tawau and KM7 of Jalan Kunak–Lahad Datu, deeming patchwork no longer viable for these segments. Pothole repairs are also planned at the T-junction near the SD Guthrie Plantation entrance at KM7. Consumers Front of Sabah (CFOS) President Nordin Thani urged the Public Works Department and Pan Borneo contractors to prioritise safety, noting public complaints and deteriorating road conditions at KM7 and KM8. * 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. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Daily Express
06-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Express
Sabah's rural spots need better internet
Published on: Tuesday, May 06, 2025 Published on: Tue, May 06, 2025 Text Size: Liew called on telecommunications companies to enhance their infrastructure and service quality, particularly in areas that attract high tourist traffic. Kota Kinabalu: Internet connectivity in Sabah's major tourism destinations is generally reliable, though rural tourist spots still face coverage challenges as the State prepares for Visit Malaysia 2026. State Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Christina Liew confirmed that popular tourist areas like Kinabalu Park experience good network coverage, with visitors facing minimal connectivity issues. 'Even at Sayat-Sayat Hut, the highest shelter on Mount Kinabalu, tourists can enjoy excellent internet quality,' Liew said. However, she highlighted concerns about internet connectivity in rural areas, where many tourism attractions are located, noting that improvements are necessary to enhance visitor experience. Liew called on telecommunications companies to enhance their infrastructure and service quality, particularly in areas that attract high tourist traffic. On April 26, Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil called on the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission and telecommunications companies to review and formulate immediate solutions to improve internet quality in Sabah's tourism areas, especially in preparation for Visit Malaysia 2026. This is to ensure that tourists can benefit from fast internet to share their experiences about the country's beauty, particularly in Sabah, while also enjoying top-notch service. Consumers Front of Sabah President Nordin Thani said his organisation had repeatedly raised this issue with both government and private agencies, urging them to collaborate with telecommunications service providers to resolve it. He said cooperation among all parties is essential to overcome internet coverage problems in rural areas, especially in remote tourism spots that have the potential to support local economic development. Nordin added that such cooperation, whether from State or Federal government agencies, could result in proposals to build systems or technologies suited to areas identified as needing high-quality, high-speed internet coverage. 'For example, Pulau Sipadan does not have a power supply, but there are technologies on the market that can overcome this, such as using a hybrid solar system for power generation, satellite technology and low-powered base stations (5G picocells) dedicated specifically to the island,' he said. Sarimah Abdullah, 40, a civil servant, also hopes internet access will be improved in tourist areas, particularly those located in remote village settings. She said based on her experience, there are still tourism areas where it's difficult to get internet access, and visitors sometimes have to leave the area just to get a connection. 'Of course, we recognise that holidays are a time to disconnect from our phones, but in emergencies, having internet access is very important, especially when holidaying near rivers,' said the mother of two. Japanese tourist Keiko Tanaka, who spent two weeks exploring Sabah's islands, shared her memorable experience during her recent visit. 'The pristine beaches of islands in Semporna took my breath away. I was amazed by the crystal-clear waters and the abundance of marine life,' said the 28-year-old biologist from Tokyo. She highlighted her stay at Mabul Island, noting that the unique lifestyle of the local community was incredibly welcoming. Tanaka said she learned a lot about their traditional way of life and thoroughly enjoyed the seafood dishes they prepared. However, she noted that internet connectivity on some islands could be improved. 'While this didn't affect my overall experience, better internet would have made it easier to share these incredible moments with my family back home. Despite this minor inconvenience, Sabah's islands offered an unforgettable adventure that I would highly recommend,' she concluded. * 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. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
