KOTA KINABALU – An indigenous group has claimed that the native Kadazan, Dusun, Murut and Rungus (KDMR) communities have been sidelined by current government policies favouring newcomers with land and documents.
Gerakan Misompuru KDMR Sabah, a movement representing KDMR communities, alleged that natives in the state have suffered forced evictions in various districts.
“Since the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah government assumed power, there have been numerous instances of indigenous people losing their land and homes,” group spokesman Jeffrey Gopog claimed. These include communities on customary lands in Tambunan, Ranau, Kuala Penyu, and Tongod in recent times.
“That includes the (homes of) former Sabah Forest Industries workers and Tanjung Aru flats residents.”
Meanwhile, migrants, including irregular ones, enjoy privileges such as land for settlements and digitised identity cards to enable their job hunting, he said.
Gopog was referring to the government’s ongoing digital database campaign involving migrants and also noted the squatter areas that have served as their safe havens, including for undocumented migrants.
Gopog claimed that Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor even distanced himself from the fate of SFI workers during a state assembly session.
Gopog spoke to reporters today after a planned sit-in protest against the state government’s treatment of the KDMR communities.
He said the remaining residents in SFI housing have endured approximately four months without electricity and water supply.
Tanjung Aru low-cost tenants, who have been instructed to vacate the property, could be enduring the same shortages.
Gopog also called for stronger oversight from the government for the Land and Survey Department, which allegedly consistently prioritises the interests of companies and individuals owning land in Sabah.
He also urged Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Jeffrey Kitingan to prioritise the state’s food security – as the Sabah agriculture and fisheries minister – over the matters of digitised cards for migrants and carbon trading deals.
Gopog said his group’s peaceful demonstration fizzled out after around 60 attendees refused to gather due to the heavy police presence at the planned venue.
The protest was set to take place at Deasoka Centre, adjacent to the thriving Gaya Street Sunday morning fair. – The Vibes, September 4, 2023
