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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.
Daily Express
21-05-2025
- General
- Daily Express
Landowner delays house demolition to give residents more time
Published on: Wednesday, May 21, 2025 Published on: Wed, May 21, 2025 By: Nora Ahmad Text Size: A resident is being consoled after witnessing her home is being demolished. BEAUFORT: Demolition works at Kampung Jmpangah here which began on Wednesday, have been postponed until this Sunday after residents refused to vacate their homes. Sabah Consumers Front (CFOS) secretary-general Hashima Hasbullah said the process was halted following an agreement by the landowner to grant residents time to leave. She said the demolition began at 10am, with four houses partially torn down, but was interrupted due to resistance from the occupants. As a result, the landowner agreed to delay the demolition, allowing residents until Sunday to pack and vacate the village. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * 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
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.
