SAPP vows to return
NCR lands to people
 KOTA
KINABALU, August 16, 2010: Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) has vowed to
return all Native Customary Rights (NCR) lands that had been given to
private companies back to the people, if it comes to power.
Pledging this was SAPP President, Datuk Yong Teck Lee while speaking at
the breaking of fast ceremony at Kampung Cenderamata II near here
Saturday.
The former Chief Minister said he was both worried and distraught by many
incidents of NCR lands that belonged to the people being taken away and
given to big companies.
He cited a very recent case for example where about 160 houses that
belonged to natives in Kota Marudu were bulldozed with their crops
destroyed in the act.
 "Where
are the elected representatives of the area? Where are the leader,
ministers and the Chief Minister? How could this happen in Sabah?" he
asked, adding that in many similar cases the houses that were demolished
were not built on squatter settlement but on NCR land.
He then highlighted a complete opposite scenario when he was the Chief
Minister citing the case of Kampung Cenderamata II which used to be a
squatter settlement with houses built haphazardly. But after the
settlement was burnt down in a big fire a few years ago, the State
government at that time when he was the Chief Minister decided to reclaim
the area and give land lots to the local to build houses.
"We discussed and decided to set aside a lot to build surau and lots for
the people, not so big but enough for them to live comfortably. Now with
the cooperation from all the residents, this village has expanded," he
said.
He further noted that despite the fact that the residents come from
different places like Kampung Likas, Petagas, Kota Belud and Bongawan,
they nonetheless decided to cooperate with one another irrespective of
their ethnic races and origin. Kampung Cenderamata II had since been
gazetted as a village reserve and protected under the law.
"So this is the SAPP spirit," he added.
 He
believed that if another squatter settlement like Kampung Cenderamata II
caught fire, there is always a big possibility that the piece of land
would be taken over by political leaders and be given to big companies.
He then cited the other squatter settlements in Sabah such as in Gum-Gum
Sandakan, Sungai Burung in Lahad Datu, Serudong in Tawau and several other
places for instance, where many of the residents were being evicted.
"They were evicted not because to clear the area to build school, mosque,
hospital or roads but so that they can give the priceless vacant land to
big companies," he charged.
He noted another settlement in Sandakan called Kampung Lupak Meluas, which
during his tenure as Chief Minister suffered similar fate with Kampung
Cenderamata II.
However, he regretted that Sandakan whose leaders had become a Chief
Minister and various deputy chief ministers, Kampung Lupak Meluas that is
under Sekong state constituency and Batu Sapi Parliamentary constituency
remained a squatter settlement until today and most of the people were
being evicted.
"If I go to Sandakan, I will always be taken to that village and asked
about many things and why the existing surau never been repaired," he
related.
 In
this respect, Yong reiterated that after the election, which he said might
be in one year time from now, SAPP would return all these lands to the
people.
He said SAPP only has two seats in Kota Kinabalu so in the next election
SAPP intended to expand and contest in more than 40 seats in Sabah.
"I hope residents in Kampung Cenderamata II who are from other districts
will be able to convey this message to their families and friends back in
their hometown about SAPP," he said.
Perhaps, he said in Karambunai and Sepanggar it might not be difficult for
SAPP to win but "we want to win in many more places".
He also advised the people to get their children who are eligible to vote
to register with the Election Commission.
In Karambunai, he said there are 2,962 voters but at the same time there
are about 800 eligible voters yet to register themselves.
"Perhaps today you are a member of Umno, Upko or others but in the coming
election your heart stays with SAPP," he said, noting that were some from
other parties attending the SAPP gathering.
Meanwhile, the number of recipients of contribution from SAPP in
conjunction with the Ramadan month in Kampung Cenderamata II this year had
increased to 1,596 from 1,490 last year.
more ...Teck
Lee pledges to return NCR land to the people
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