IT will take two to four years before socio-economic changes can be seen in Kota Marudu, one of the poorest districts in Malaysia, said one of its lawmakers.
The seat in Sabah is represented by Kota Marudu MP Datuk Wetrom Bahanda and Tandek and Bandau assemblyman Datuk Hendrus Anding.
Anding told The Vibes work has begin to address the issues that have long plagued Kota Marudu.
But it would take at least four years before the efforts bear fruit, he said.
Despite efforts by various leaders, spanning different political eras in Sabah, to unlock its rich potential, most have failed.
The Vibes reported yesterday that despite the political changes over the past four years, the socio-economic status of the district with a population of about 250,000 has remained unchanged. Most of the residents are farmers, fishermen, or odd-job workers.
Anding said the number of hardcore poor in his constituency was a problem but according to him, based on statistics from the Sabah Maju Jaya Secretariat, there were only around 328 households in this category.
“The realities of hardcore poverty in Sabah, as opposed to the district, are much smaller than what has been perceived.
“In my constituency, there are only 328 households. They are the hardcore poor. We also have the poor and the vulnerable who earn either between RM1,200 and RM1,500, or lower, each month.
“I will assist them by looking at their present source of income and improving it,” said Anding, who is also Sabah’s agriculture, fisheries, and food industry assistant minister.
Kota Marudu has not seen the influx of workers from other districts due to the lack of opportunities.
It has instead experienced a massive migration of its youth to Kota Kinabalu city or to Kuala Lumpur to look for better opportunities.
Anding said several tracts of land within the Sonsogon-Magandai region have been earmarked for joint ventures between communities and state government-linked agencies and companies.
For instance, Anding said, he was confident that the rubber agropolitan venture between Sabah Rubber Industries Board could bring lift Kampung Gana folk from poverty in the next three to four years.
Land disputes
The Jalan Sonsogon-Magandai road in the Tandek constituency is another longstanding problem for the locals.
Anding said the deplorable condition of the road worked against PBS president, Datuk Seri Maximus Ongkili, who failed to retain the Kota Marudu seat in the 2022 general election.
The saga of the Sonsogon Magandai road dates back to 2004, he said, adding that the request to build the road was first made by Ongkili when he just became a pro-government MP in Barisan Nasional.
Due to numerous factors, including the change of government, the project was only able to kick off last year under the present federal administration, but the incessant rainfall early this year has kept contractors from working on the road.
The 40-km Jalan Sonsogon-Magandai road is being built at a cost of RM264.7 million and is scheduled for completion on Dec 29, 2025.
Land disputes are not confined to Kota Marudu alone but reverberate throughout Sabah.
The issue of land tenure remains contentious even today and one of the recurring issues involves territories once developed by corporations.
Some areas have seen communal grants being issued and subsequently subdivided among individuals, including grants in Sonsogon Magandai.
“In July, three additional villages adjacent to Sonsogon will receive land grants, although dissatisfaction persists among some who seek access to alternative areas.
“At a pre-council meeting last year, concerns were raised with the state cabinet regarding the underutilised land run by the Bagaraya Sdn Bhd company, which prompted calls for legal remapping to facilitate grant applications to the villages,” said Anding.
He said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor has endorsed this initiative where any of the land leased to Bagaraya would be returned and processed to be issued to the communities.
However, he said the work was hindered by hurdles.
The current process saw many applications from the indigenous communities rejected as the land was still registered under the Bagaraya Sdn Bhd.
Bagaraya held a 60-year leasehold of approximately 200,000 acres in Tandek, which involved 40 villages and some 15,000 residents in Kota Marudu.
Anding admitted that even when the Bagaraya Sdn Bhd problem is resolved, the district would still continue to face land claim issues, although he said it would be greatly reduced.
“These rejections stem from overlapping applications, land claims, and inaccuracies. Still, applicants are encouraged to reapply, particularly those asserting native customary rights." – May 17, 2024
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