HANDLING DISPUTE: Felda Auxiliary police restrain one of the villagers.
LAHAD DATU: The residents of Tanjung Labian have called for government intervention to resolve a dispute over customary land between the villagers and Felda.
According to Assafal Alian, a representative of the villagers, the land dispute has come to a point where certain parties have issued instructions to shoot people they regard as intruders.
“We have received instructions not to enter the area around 3pm on August 18, but prior to that two of the villagers who entered the land on the same day around 10.30am have been injured by the Felda Auxiliary Police.
“Therefore, government intervention is very important in helping to resolve this dispute,” he said.
“Land issue is close to the hearts of the indigenous people, and it is more than a promise of development by the government.
In fact, this sentiment is shared by young people who feel that their elected representatives do not seem to be aware of the grievances of their parents,” he said.