Bobotong village solutions

KOTA KINABALU: United Pasok Momogum Kadazandusun Murut Organisation (Upko) is confident the issue of Kampung Bobotong in Tongod can be resolved amicably, said acting president Datuk Seri Wilfred Madius Tangau.

Tangau said he had discussed the matter with Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman who indicated to him solutions to the problem.

This included the move to excise the Bobotong settlement from the forest reserve albeit with conditions.

“I have spoken to the Chief Minister yesterday and I proposed that the Bobotong settlement be excised out of the forest reserve in a similar scheme that has been implemented by the government in other parts of Sabah,” said Tangau in a statement here Sunday.

Tangau who is Science, Technology and Innovation Minister, met with Musa during the ground-breaking ceremony of the Sabah Bajau Sama Association cultural building in Lok Batik, Tuaran on Saturday.

Tangau said that he had taken a personal interest in the Bobotong community over the last few years.

He said the community had been requested to ensure that no new settlers encroach in other parts of the forest reserve and to indicate their cultivations in the settlement to pave way for the move to excise out their settlement.

The community has complied and Tangau has written letters to the State Government proposing for a solution to their problem.

The plight of the Kampung Bobotong people made headlines after their houses and other structures in the settlement were demolished by the forestry enforcement officers last week.

Non-governmental organisation Jaringan Orang Asal Se-Malaysia (JOAS) has criticised the action and described it as “inhumane and brutal” for leaving the 60 people homeless.

However, the Forestry Department explained the demolition was a drastic last resort measure to get rid of what it labelled as “illegal settlers” encroaching on that reserve.

Its director, Datuk Sam Mannan, said the department had the right to take action, claiming Kampung Bobotong is part of the large Sungai Pinangah Forest Reserve that was gazetted in 1965.

“The Forest Department had exhausted all means to bring the encroachments under control, it was decided that drastic actions must now be taken,” he said in a statement last week.

It was reported that the demolition process has been halted, and the villagers were given until March 30 to move out from the area before they proceed with the full demolition.