Sabah’s lands belong to Sabahans and not to outsiders, Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman said.
With that in mind, the state Government is doing its best to help Sabahans who do not have lands to own a piece of the state and one way is by issuing natives with communal grants, he said at the State Assembly Sitting yesterday.
“We not only give them communal grants, we also give them the necessary infrastructure like roads, water and electricity supply to these areas. We also realize that many of those who receive the communal grants do not have the capital to develop these lands so we offer them opportunities to participate in a joint venture with the government on several projects that are suitable for their areas.
“What is important is that we assure them that the land will always be theirs,” he said when replying to Sugut Assemblyman Datuk James Ratib and his Tamparuli counterpart Datuk Seri Panglima Wilfred Bumburing yesterday.
According to Musa, communal titles are also one way to prevent natives from selling their land so that they have something to pass down to their future generations.
The state government, he added, had allocated 40 per cent or more than one million acres of its land to the natives in Sabah despite claims by the Opposition that the state government does not care for its natives.
Musa lamented that the Opposition and NGOs are misleading the people by claiming that the government is cruel as it is not interested to help those who are landless.
“But in reality, the government has given millions of acres of land to the natives in Sabah. I don’t blame the natives who sell their land we try to help them the best we can. Through the communal grant, we can help eradicate poverty, ensure proper land ownership and optimizing land use.
“Through joint ventures we are opening up job and business opportunities to the in-situ residents as well as strengthening the family institution as husband and wife become joint owners. This policy also helps single mothers, widows and widowers to own lands,” he stressed.
Musa also told the House, “all this while as the Chief Minister of Sabah, I have never approved land applications by companies from outside the state. Never, you can check with the Land and Survey Department and see for yourself if I have approved any applications by any conglomerates or public listed companies.
“Never, because I know the land in Sabah is for her natives and not outsiders,” he pointed out.
On the matter of the land issue faced by villagers in Kampung Malinsou, Wayan and Sinurai in Ranau, which was raised by Bingkor assemblyman Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan, Musa said the state government is in discussion with the land owner to alienate a parcel of the area to the villagers as they have been living in the area for so long.
Musa said that area was not state land which is why the government cannot approve the villagers’ land application.
“This is titled land and according to the law, we cannot just simply acquire titled land. We cannot trespass; if we do we have to pay. This is the problem. So where is the government’s fault? Did we ill treat the villagers? Maybe the villagers are not aware that the land belongs to someone else,” he said.
To Dr Jeffrey’s proposal that the Government look for an alternative place for the villagers, Musa said that the Government is in discussion with the land owner to give 100 acres of the 1,100 acres they own to the villagers and the chances are good that this will happen.
Bumburing however pointed out that under the Land law provision, if a piece of land is left undeveloped for a certain period of time, the government has the right to take back especially in the instance of the absent landlord.
“I think there is a leeway for the government to take back the land and give to the people. Can the government consider this,” he asked.
Musa’s reply was that through his constant communication with the state Attorney General, the Government cannot take back any titled land.
“We can do so if we pay compensation and this is a cost to the government because they (owners) will ask for high price because the state value and private value are different. Land owners usually have a very high asking price and to acquire the land costs the government money as it has done it before,” he said adding, “we pay millions of Ringgit and give the land to the rakyat.
“But we cannot keep on doing that because it may cause the Government to bankrupt. If we keep on acquiring, it will cost us a lot of money and sometimes we feel it is not viable to do so,” said Musa.
He also said that Bumburing’s proposal to split the Land and Survey Department into two different departments is logical as it has been done in Peninsular Malaysia.
“I have also said the same thing. Maybe we will discuss in detail how to divide the Department so that there is a Land department responsible for land development and a survey for expediting surveying works.
“But for your information we also have a policy named PANTAS or Perkhidmatan Tanah Anak Negeri Sabah where land occupied by native Bumiputera for more than three years will be surveyed and given to them,” Musa said adding that this has been done in Kiulu, Sugut and Long Pasia.
“We are also grateful to the Federal Government for the allocation to do surveying works,” he added.
Later to Kapayan assemblyman Dr Edwin’s question on why land issues still persist in Sabah, Musa said although the government had done its best to address the issues, there are people instigating the natives.
“You know who is the culprit? It is the opposition, like the case raised up by Dr Jeffrey. He knows the land where Malinsou, Wayan and Sinurai are located was applied and approved in 1977 and was sold by the original owner. He (Dr Jeffrey) knows that the land is owned by someone and yet he fans the issue to get the villagers angry at the government.
“The culprits are also the NGOs who are anti-government like PACOS. You can ask the Land and Survey Department director, everyone knows. Of course I thank you for appreciating the communal grant, because elected representatives from both Barisan Nasional (BN) and the Opposition know that this is good for the villagers.
“But there are some NGOs who ask what is the use of the communal titles. They know that this is good for the people as the government prevents them from selling their lands and it helps them to develop the land, so what else you want?
“Let me ask all of you, where in the world is there a government that gives land for free and also help to develop it? Only in Malaysia and only Sabah, that is why we are Sabah Boleh,” Musa stressed.