Six kampungs which cover 180 acres of padi land in Kota Belud, the rice bowl district, are urgently seeking the flood relief promised by the government, federal and state, since Jan 16.

The kampungs, hit by severe losses, have apparently been listed in the hardcore poor category since the days of the United Sabah National Organisation (Usno) government which fell in 1976.

"I can't be held responsible for the negative talk in the affected kampungs against the government for the long delay in giving the aid it promised," said Jamari Seleh, 51, who heads the Kampung Jawi-Jawi Village Development and Security Committee (JKKK).

Jamari, who's the spokesman for the six kampungs, was explaining a peaceful gathering that 60 affected padi farmers held in Kota Belud earlier this week with placards drawing attention to their plight.

Jawi-Jawi aside, the other kampungs are Taungusi, Labuan, Wakap, Merabu and Katabungan.

Jamari expressed disappointed that despite various attempts made by him and the other farmers, the promised aid remains as elusive as ever.

‘Why aid other countries but not us? '

From watching TV, their impression is that federal and state governments seem more concerned about rushing aid to other countries affected by natural disasters and war.

Jamari hastened to add that the farmers are not against Malaysia and Sabah sharing with less fortunate countries but not at the expense of its own citizens. "Why give milk to the monkey in the jungle while one's own child dies of starvation," chipped in Razlan Saitim, 31, Jamari's fellow JKKK member. "We must look after our own first."

abdul rahman dahlanAsked what he had done specifically to collect the promised government aid, Jamari disclosed that he brought the matter to the attention of Tempasuk state assemblyperson Musbah Jamli, Kota Belud MP Abdul Rahman Dahlan (right) and the District Office.

Once, the farmers rushed to the District Office when they heard that the long-promised aid to them had arrived but it turned out to be a false alarm.

"We can't stop the farmers from expressing their grievances in stronger terms," cautioned Jamari in referring to the peaceful gathering. "Our padi yield has since dropped by half since the January floods."

Razlan said his nine acres of padi crop which was almost ready for harvest, was completely devastated by the January floods. In addition, the floods badly damaged the padi land which he diligently prepared for cultivation about five years ago.

He had been hoping that compensation payments from the government would help with its restoration and tide him over financially.

"This is why I took part in the peaceful gathering along with the other affected farmers," said Razlan. "If we are talking about 1Malaysia, why are we being treated like this? We feel left out."

Nek Muhammad, 46, a single mother who has six acres of padi land expressed similar sentiments. She has eight children including a daughter at the Universiti Malaysia Sarawak.

"Previously, I could get RM 12,000 each season or RM 24,000 per annum," cried Nek. "Now, my income isn't even half of that because of the flood damage."

Like Razlan and the others, she badly needs the promised flood relief to bring back her land to its previous fertility and productivity.

Wide coverage

Adlin Mohammad, 37, another affected farmer, points out that the government cannot ignore the fact that the flooding received wide coverage in the media and blogs. Hence, they can't carry on as if it did not take place, he added. "We also reported the matter to the police and the Agriculture Department besides the District Office."

Adlin lamented that had the floods occurred a few days later, he would have been able to harvest his crop which had already ripened. Like the others, he insists that the government make good its promise to render flood relief aid to them.

Kota Belud, along the main road connecting Kota Kinabalu and Kudat in the north, has a population evenly divided between the Dusun and Bajau with a sizeable number of Chinese.

Kota Belud is noted for its huge tamu, an open air fair, which is held every Sunday, and its large number of ponies and horses. Hence, its nickname 'cowboy district' besides being the rice bowl of Sabah.

Tradition has it that the Bajau brought along the ponies and horses from the Philippines where they were introduced by the Spanish.

Musbah, Abdul Rahman and the Kota Belud District Office were not immediately available for comment.