Tenom: The Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (Gagasan Rakyat) Melalap Division has endorsed four motions following debates at their Second Annual Party Meeting for 2024, held at SM Tshung Tsin Hall on Saturday.
Its Division Head Datuk Jamawi Jaafar said these motions addressed land issues, education, Pekan Melalap development and economic matters.
The land motion sparked the most intense debate, focusing on several long-established villages in Mukim Entabuan located within the Class 2 Mandalom Forest Reserve.
“This issue is contentious because villagers within the forest reserve have received eviction notices. Many of these settlements are in the Mandalom and Entabuan Forest Reserves. Melalap residents lack suitable land options as 14,000 acres have been under corporate ownership since pre-independence, roughly a century ago,” said Jamawi.
He shared these insights following the annual meeting, which was officiated by party President Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, who also serves as Chief Minister and Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) Chairman.
Jamawi highlighted that Melalap’s community is excluded from valuable commercial lands, which are owned by major peninsula-based corporations.
“Consequently, they’ve settled in forest reserves and now face eviction. We’re advocating for the gazetting of these established village areas within the reserves,” he said.
Another contentious land issue involved the Sabah Rubber Industry Board (LIGS) pioneer land in Lagud Seberang. Despite completing payments over 15 years ago, many settlers still await their land titles.
Jamawi said the Chief Minister had pledged to expedite this process through the Land and Natural Resources Department.
“The Chief Minister has also committed to addressing the forest reserve village issue, noting successful resolutions in other districts. We’re optimistic about a resolution once we submit the list of affected villages and individuals requiring land release from the reserves,” Jamawi added.
He also said the party President had instructed the Forestry Department to identify areas for release, acknowledging the long-term residency of these communities.
Regarding economic initiatives, Jamawi said a proposal to gazette government land for a permanent food production park, aimed at providing farming opportunities for local youth.
“There is a demand for farmland. A well-equipped food production park will allow interested individuals to cultivate plots of two to five acres, supported by the government,” he said.
