5,000 at Sabah protest rally

Sunday, March 19, 2006

Daily ExpressPenampang

No compromise appears to be the message sent by some 5,000 people, mainly from the Kadazandusun community, to the State Government on the proposed relocation of more than 1,000 people from the Sri Tanjung squatter colony, in Petagas, to the Maang area.

Speaking to reporters at the peaceful protest rally at Kampung Maang, near here, Saturday, two Barisan Nasional elected representatives said "there are no two ways about it", while pointing out that the proposed relocation of the squatters should not proceed.

Penampang MP Donald Mojuntin and Moyog Assemblyman Philip Lasimbang described the issue as too big for the Maang residents to handle, considering the dubious identity of the Sri Tanjung squatters, some of whom were alleged to have come from other parts of the State.

"I hope the Internal Affairs Ministry under the Prime Minister will take the necessary action soon because we are sitting on a time bomb that is waiting to explode," Mojuntin said.

"For all these reasons, there is no compromise," asserted Lasimbang. Met at the rally in Tobihung, Kampung Maang, the elected representatives said they fully understood the emotions of the people, especially in Kampung Maang itself, in raising their objection against the State Government's decision."

They have the right idea, they are doing it properly (in organising the rally) and the fantastic thing is that all the people from other districts also made their presence felt as a show of support," said Mojuntin.

The protest rally was to appeal to the State Government to reconsider the decision to move even half of the squatters from Sri Tanjung to the vicinity of their village.

On Wednesday, Chief Minister Datuk Musa Haji Aman assured that the State Cabinet unanimously approved the relocation of half the Sri Tanjung squatters, but remained adamant that the Maang area had already been identified to accommodate them.

Musa is probably the first Sabah CM to face open public protest over what is seen as an "unpopular" government decision by some quarters. Former Chief Minister Datuk Harris Mohd Salleh's announcement of the federalisation of Labuan in 1984 was also opposed but there was no open protest.

The Berjaya Government's abrogation of Tambunan district in the early 1985 was also met with silence, but the people retaliated by defeating the Berjaya candidate in a by-election and the Berjaya administration fell within a year. In Saturday's rally, the KDM community came from as far as Kuala Penyu, Keningau, Tawau and Sandakan to lend support for the Maang residents. See The three-hour rally also featured banners and placards, as well as speeches by local community leaders against the relocation exercise.

The politicians attending the gathering included Penampang Upko leaders, PBS Supreme Council members Dr Chong Eng Leong and Johnny Mositun, Sabah Keadilan deputy chief Christina Liew and DAP Kota Kinabalu chief Dr Hiew King Cheu.

A group from the former Kampung Matabian squatter colony were also invited to the gathering.Police also turned up in full force, including three truckloads of Federal Reserve Unit personnel who were on stand-by to maintain public order. Vehicles lined up both sides of the Penampang-Lok Kawi road for nearly two kilometres.

A roadblock was also set up at Kampung Ramayah where many motorists travelling to Lok Kawi were told to take an alternative route.Addressing the rally, organising committee chairman Frederick Mosoom said the event was not being used to vent their anger against the Government's decision, but more as an appeal for reconsideration to shift the Sri Tanjung squatters elsewhere.

According to him, signatures collected during the rally would be submitted to the Prime Minister for his consideration should the State Government remain in a non-compromising mood."

The leaders often stated that ketua kampungs should act as the eyes and ears of the Government, but when we told them (leaders) about our apprehension, we were ignored. And when we air out our grouses in the newspapers, they get angry," he said.

"We are not asking for a billion ringgit projects, but to listen to our plight," he said. "It was puzzling that the people, even the elected representatives, were not duly informed on the proposal.

"Later, Mosoom told reporters that they wanted to convey the message to the Government pertaining to their stand and to consider the plight of landless locals."Our main contention here is that the government must prioritise the landless people," he said.

One of the organising committee members, who requested anonymity, recalled a recent visit to Kampung Maang by Deputy Chief Minister and PBS president Datuk Joseph Pairin Kitingan who reminded a recent statement by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Haji Ahmad Badawi that the Government would listen to the views of the people before taking action. The rally broke up peacefully at 3pm, in compliance with a three-hour police permit issued earlier.After the gathering, KDM hip hop artiste Atama, together with a group of youths from Kampung Maang, also took the opportunity to perform in support of the people there.