PBS : BN has no land policy to review

PRESS RELEASE IN TAMPARULI, 3 AUGUST 1998
PBS: BN HAS NO LAND POLICY TO REVIEW

TAMPARULI, Mon. - Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) today urged chief minister Tan Seri Bernard Dompok to disclose what particular aspect of land matter he planned to review given that the Barisan Nasional (BN) government does not appear to have any land policy at all.

Its deputy president Dr Maximus Ongkili, said since the present government assumed power in 1994 matters pertaining to land had become vague with policy decisions and actions made on ad-hoc and short-term basis.

He was commenting on chief minister Tan Seri Bernard Dompok's statement on Sunday that the BN government planned to review the state land policy to suit existing conditions of the economy.

"Since 1994 the State government has been doing whatever it likes in respect of urban and rural lands. It has no policy on land development. So what is there to review?" he asked.

Dr Ongkili who officiated the PBS Tamparuli Annual General Meeting (AGM) yesterday claimed the BN government did not only give away urban and rural lands freely to non-Sabahans companies but also "bulldozed" the state land laws to the detriment of natives.

No previous Sabah government has done so much damage to land laws, customary rights and land use policy than the present government. The Barisan Nasional amended the land ordinance (CAP1968) last year to erode natives rights with the infamous "adverse possession" clause in section 6.

"Former chief minister Datuk Yong Teck Lee once talked so much about auctioning urban auctioning urban land and yet thousand acres of town and seafront lands have been given away quietly by the government to unknown applicants. Similarly thousands of acres of prime agricutlural land in Paitan, Sungai-sungai and Tangkarason in Sugut, Tongod (Kuamut), Kanibongan (Pitas) and Madai vicinity (Kunak) which have been settled and partially developed by natives have been given away to public listed corporations and other unknown companies. Many natives and rural families have been displaced as a result."

"Large areas of state agricutlural and town lands have also been used as land swaps for dudious building projects such as the proposed Ministry of Agriculture building and new istana."

"To top it all, the BN government has sold some 5 million acres of commercial forest reserves with leases of 100 years to scores of companies which have no track record or technical expertise in forestry matters. All these irrational and irresponsible actions prove that the present government has no policy on land. Indeed it has diverted away from established priorities in land development", he claimed.

The Bandau member of parliament renewed his challenge to the chief minister to disclose publicly the following information:

The total area of agricultural lands approved to companies since 1994, the location of such lands, names of companies and shareholders.
The total area of urban and seafront lands sold to private companies, location of such lands, names of companies and shareholders.
The amount of premium charged on each land awarded and total revenue obtained form all awards of land to private companies.
Total revenue obtained from public auction of land to date.
The status, owners and justification for the award of 500 acres of seafront land in Teluk Likas to private companies. Why was the land given away when there was no EIA study undertaken on the proposed project?

He alleged that the government's persistent silence on the above matters showed that it has something to hide.

Dr Ongkili said PBS believed that what was implied and intended in the proposal to review land policy was to give more prime urban and rural lands to foreigners and degazette forest reserves for agricultural purpose which would then be "swallowed" by non-Sabahan companies.

He urged the people of Sabah to stop further "sellout" of the State's forest and land resources by voting the BN government out of office in the next election.

Those present at the function included Tuaran MP Yunof Maringking, Kudat assemblyman Datuk Kong Hong Ming, nominated assemblyman Jahid Jahim, Datuk Mohd Noor Mansoor, Tamparuli divisional chief Edward Linggu and other supreme council members.

About 500 party leaders and supporters attended the function held at Dewan Serbaguna, Kg Tamparuli.