By Karen Bong
KUCHING, March 28: A group of landowners from Kampung Batu Gong in Siburan, Padawan here is demanding full accountability, transparency and integrity, apart from compensation, from the relevant government authorities they claim to have allegedly encroached into their lands following the excavation of a new irrigation system completed some time in 2020.
Mohd Nazry Ali, who represents nearly 10 affected landowners from the village, said that the new irrigation system project carried out by the Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID) Sarawak was initially proposed to be opened from Sungai Empila to Sungai Endap but it was re-routed to Sungai Batu Gong without the consent of the landowners.
“The landowners were shocked as the project was not carried out according to agreement or plans including mapping using the Global Position System (GPS) that had been approved by the Division or District Office or any relevant authorities.
“Should there be changes to the GPS plotting that would have encroached into individual lands, it should have been informed but there was no discussion, explanation, notice or letter of order to inform the landowners that drainage work will be carried out on their lands. This is unethical,” he told DayakDaily when contacted after raising the issue through an email today.
As a result of the alleged encroachment around the Empila area and nearby Monggok Limau, Mohd Nazri said the land used to farm ‘Padi Bukit’, fruit trees and vegetable plantations were destroyed, which were the livelihood of the villagers.
On a copy of a letter signed by three village heads of Kampung Raeh Batu 27, Kampung Batu Gong Lama and Kampung Gong Baru dated June 16, 2020 claiming to have gotten the consent of all parties and that they would not make any claim on the lands involved, he said the letter had no legitimacy.
“The village heads had made their own assumptions without referring to the landowners. Village heads have no authority to decide or take over issues related to customary or inherited lands which ownership and right belonged exclusively to rightful landowners.
“The landowners had never verbally or in writing issued permission to the village heads to represent them. This is clearly a breach of trust and indirectly reflects the ignorance of the government,” he added, claiming there must be some conspiracy involved.
In fact, this matter had been raised to the relevant authorities including the Sarawak government some time in August 2021.
Following that, Mohd Nazry had attended a meeting with the Sarawak Integrity and Ombudsman Unit under the Premier of Sarawak’s Department on Nov 11, 2021 to discuss the matter, including the negligence by the relevant authorities.
However, Mohd Nazry who is also from the village, said the Sarawak government and relevant authorities have yet to come back with its investigation report or any explanation to date.
“This issue has dragged on for more than two years. We no longer have the patience nor can we contain our anxiety in dealing with the issue which we feel does not even have to be raised to the highest authority.
“The responsible parties should not take this issue lightly by taking advantage of the villagers and landowners of Batu Gong who may lack the knowledge. The government authorities at all levels should act with the highest transparency, accountability and integrity in their conduct of any matters and projects,” he explained.
Compensation is a second matter, Mohd Nazry emphasised, as more importantly, action must be taken to stop such unethical practices. — DayakDaily
