KOTA KINABALU: Lawyer Marcel Jude Joseph has decided to stand in the 13th general election as a candidate to fight for environmental issues together with other issues affecting the public.
“For the last three years, I have fought some of these issues in court such as the Atkinson Clock Tower case. There has been some success in making the public, the government and the courts to be more aware of environmental and public matters. “However, this is not enough. I realize that I have to take it to the next level. We not only have to fight these matters in court but we need to change the law to better protect the environment and its citizens. This can only be done in parliament and the State Legislative Assembly,” Marcel said in a statement yesterday.
Except for Datuk Masidi Manjun who has been consistent throughout in his stand to protect the environment, he said he was sad to hear very little from YBs, MPs or political parties on environment and other issues affecting the people of Sabah.
“What we need in the next government are YBs who will stand up and be counted, who will speak out on public issues, who will protect the environment,” he said.
Marcel said he also decided to help the Kampung Tanjung Batu Tengah residents affected by the rockfall incident on Saturday.
“Firstly, all residents who have been injured or have suffered loss of home or properly, I am willing to undertake a claim in court for damages. This will be done pro bono (free of charge).
“Please email photographs and details of your losses to [email protected]. I repeat that the claim in court will be undertaken on a pro bono basis so those who have suffered injury do not have to worry about costs,” he said.
Three women and three babies in Kampung Tanjung Batu Tengah (Besi Buruk) were injured and seven houses flattened when three boulders, including one the size of a house, came crashing down from the top of Kukusan Hill near here around noon on Saturday.
Tawau police chief ACP Awang Besar Dullah said the quarry operators had been ordered to cease operations while the residents were told to vacate their homes.
Awang Besar said the boulders came loose as a result of tremors caused by blasting at the quarry about 11.30am.
Marcel said he was the lawyer who previously acted for Sabah Environmental Protection Association (SEPA) to apply for leave for judicial review against the activities undertaken on Kukusan Hill.