TONGOD: More than 500 residents from seven villages here are urging the state government and Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal to help them obtain native customary land titles.
Despite having settled in the respective villagers for about 73 years and applied for the native titles, the residents claimed they have yet to receive any grants.
The affected villages are; Kampung Kiandungo, Kampung Sogo-Sogo, Kampung Kitumbalang, Kampung Malagatan Besar, Kampung Malagatan Kecil, Kampung Lumangkau and Kampung Tenaga Bersatu.
Land Claim Committee chairman Washington Ramli said villagers were shocked when they found out that a company had taken ownership of the land years ago.
"Villagers only knew that a plot of land occupied by them and the native customary rights have suddenly become the ownership of a company.
"Our ancestors have been staying in these areas since 1946. The lands have been cultivated and houses built on them.
"Our previous generations and parents have applied for the land titles and boundary stones put up in early 2000.
“However, in 2007, a grant was issued on behalf of an oil palm plantation and the stones were removed,” he claimed.
Washington said villagers have also lost their source of income after their farms were destroyed by the company.
He urged the state government, especially Shafie, to intervene and help them on the matter.
“We are pleading. Please help us to get our land rights back.” he said.