Sabah MPs: Bugis squatters a political threat
Tony ThienPublished: Mar 11, 2006 11:03 AM | Updated: Jan 29, 2008 10:21 AM
A decision by the Sabah government to relocate some 10,000 Indonesian Bugis squatters from Kota Kinabalu to Penampang has come under heavy fire from locals and politicians.
A decision by the Sabah government to relocate some 10,000 Indonesian Bugis squatters from Kota Kinabalu to Penampang has come under heavy fire from locals and politicians.
The controversial move was planned in order to make way for expansion works on the Kota Kinabalu International Airport.
At least three state Barisan Nasional elected representatives have publicly denounced the relocation plan which is expected to take place soon.
They are worried of the adverse effects on the electoral make-up of the Kadazan-majority area should these squatters be given citizenship soon.
Penampang MP Donald Mojuntin and Patutan MP Marcus Mojigoh publicly stated that there was no prior consultation with the authorities of Penampang nor were they officially informed of the plan.
Mojigoh claimed that the squatters held both Indonesian passports and MyKad's which has previously allowed them to cast ballots during elections.
Furthermore, Mojijoh alleged that the locals in Maang, Penampam previously applied for the land for housing projects before it was earmarked for the new Bugis settlement.
The application was rejected. After hearing news of the relocation, locals believe that the state government had favored the foreigners over the locals.
Initially, the Federal Land Commission and the Civil Aviation Department allowed the Bugis to squat near the airport but their numbers grew over the years.
New constituency?
Joining the chorus of opposition to the relocation was Penampang district farmers association chairperson Frederick Mosom and Moyog assemblyperson Philip Lasimbang.
Speaking on behalf of more than 1,000 associations from the area, Mosom expressed fears that the squatters might outnumber the existing voters in the area.
"A new constituency might even be carved out of the new resettlement area," he told malaysiakini.
"We are afraid they will bring with them endless social and criminal problems and activities [...] bringing a potential rift between the residents of Maang and its surrounding areas who are known to be peace-loving, law abiding and simple kampung folk," added Mosom.
Of late, squatter colonies dominated by foreigners have mushroomed in several major towns on the East Coast of Sabah, pressuring local authorities to properly relocate them.
The controversial move was planned in order to make way for expansion works on the Kota Kinabalu International Airport.
At least three state Barisan Nasional elected representatives have publicly denounced the relocation plan which is expected to take place soon.
They are worried of the adverse effects on the electoral make-up of the Kadazan-majority area should these squatters be given citizenship soon.
Penampang MP Donald Mojuntin and Patutan MP Marcus Mojigoh publicly stated that there was no prior consultation with the authorities of Penampang nor were they officially informed of the plan.
Mojigoh claimed that the squatters held both Indonesian passports and MyKad's which has previously allowed them to cast ballots during elections.
Furthermore, Mojijoh alleged that the locals in Maang, Penampam previously applied for the land for housing projects before it was earmarked for the new Bugis settlement.
The application was rejected. After hearing news of the relocation, locals believe that the state government had favored the foreigners over the locals.
Initially, the Federal Land Commission and the Civil Aviation Department allowed the Bugis to squat near the airport but their numbers grew over the years.
New constituency?
Joining the chorus of opposition to the relocation was Penampang district farmers association chairperson Frederick Mosom and Moyog assemblyperson Philip Lasimbang.
Speaking on behalf of more than 1,000 associations from the area, Mosom expressed fears that the squatters might outnumber the existing voters in the area.
"A new constituency might even be carved out of the new resettlement area," he told malaysiakini.
"We are afraid they will bring with them endless social and criminal problems and activities [...] bringing a potential rift between the residents of Maang and its surrounding areas who are known to be peace-loving, law abiding and simple kampung folk," added Mosom.
Of late, squatter colonies dominated by foreigners have mushroomed in several major towns on the East Coast of Sabah, pressuring local authorities to properly relocate them.
View Comments0