Villagers at Kampung Kolam Damai, Bukit Padang have appealed to the government to withdraw its eviction notice ordering them to vacate the land which they have lived on for over 30 years.

Village chief Joseph Sigoh said there are 650 residents living in 150 houses at Kg Kolam Damai.

“The villagers here are KDM (Kadazan Dusun Murut), Chinese and Bajau.

“There is no PTI (illegal immigrant) here,” he said. It is learnt that Kampung Kolam Damai has not been gazetted yet.

The villagers received the notice issued by Kota Kinabalu City Hall (DBKK) dated May 2, 2017 ordering them to vacate the land and remove any houses or structures within 30 days.

The notice states that DBKK had carried out inspection and census on the land owned by City Hall and it was found that the villagers have encroached on the land and erected houses or structures without approval.

The villagers were ordered to vacate the land within 30 days after the issuance of the notice failing which DBKK will take legal action including dismantling the houses and structures.

Joseph appealed to the government to withdraw the eviction notice as the villagers have been living on the land for more than three decades.

A meeting was held among the villagers yesterday to discuss the issue in the presence of Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) Inanam Division chief cum Inanam Community Development Leader (PPM) Fredolin Bangon, Village Security and Development Committee (JKKK) chairman Marcus Suking and Kota Kinabalu MP Jimmy Wong, who appeared while the meeting was underway.

Midway through Jimmy’s speech, Fredolin stood up, shook hands with Jimmy and left the meeting.

“We have readied lawyers to defend the rights of the people here.

“As YB (Yang Berhormat), I am responsible for the rights of the rakyat,” Jimmy told the villagers.

Fredolin said he had attended the meeting to listen to the villagers, gather ideas and compile minutes of the meeting.

“I requested the villagers to provide me with the notice so that I could convey the situation to the government and see how they could assist.”

He said the government would not evict them just like that.

“Perhaps the government would provide a resettlement for the villagers.

“This is a caring government. But the opposition keeps attacking the government,” Fredolin said.

Adding on, Marcus said they were fine with the opposition attending the meeting as observers, but not making insults against the government.

“We want to resolve the problem but he (Jimmy) keeps inciting the villagers.

“We don’t want to charge any (political) party. We just want the government to cancel the eviction notice.

“But the opposition came and the situation became chaotic,” he said.

Also present was Wanita DAP Sabah chief Jenny Lasimbang who was there to interview the female villagers to learn more about the situation.

Source:
courtesy of THE BORNEO POST

by BORNEO POST

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