The implementation of extension works to the Kota Kinabalu International airport
has run into unexpect snag. The state government was expecting some oppositions
from the Kota Kinabalu Turf Club which will have to be evacuated to give way to
the new extension. Surprisingly the KKTC did not put up much of a protest and
agreed to move. However, the government is facing problem from an unexpected
quarter, the residents of the Kampung Maang. There is a squatters colony in the
state land where the new airport extension is going to be built. The squatters
naturally have to relocated, the new relocation place is in a forest reserve
near the Kampung Maang. The villagers from that kampung stage a rigorous
protests because they fear that the 1,000 sqautters to be relocated will upset
the community composition in the area. The majority of the Maang community is
Kadazandusun, while the mojority of the squatters are local Malays, and illegal
immigrants from Indonesia and Phillipines. The State assemblyman, the member of
Parliament representing that area as well as politicans from other political
parties were also present during the protest. Four senior members from UMNO
accused them as betraying the Barisan Nasional (BN) coaliation state government
by joining the protests. Then heated debates ensued, joined by several ministers
from various component parties of BN. The Sabah government then assured the
villagers that strict screening will be carried out to make sure that only
squatters with vilid Malaysian identity cards will be relocated to the Maang
area. However, the villagers are not convinced because they believed that the
Malaysian identity card, MyCard is too easy to come by. The newest aprticipant
in the debates is the Sabah branch chief of the Malaysia Human Rights Council,
Simon Sipaun. He said that let the Law run its course, Malaysian and non
Malaysian squatters should be treated alike so that there will be no double
standard. Meaning either relocate all the squatters or none should be relocated
but be paid with monetary terms instead. Interesting,interesting! Apparently
there are not less than 4 schools of opinions on this issue :
-
Do not build new shelters for the evacuatees, simply compensate them with
money
-
Build new shelters for genuine Malaysians only, forget about the illegal
immigrants
-
No double standard, should build new homes for all evacuatees including non
Malaysians
- Find a new relocation site, eg. Kinarut
- Abundon the extension project, build a new airport at Kimanis
-
Go on arguing till the Federal government withdraw the allocation fund at
end of year
The bewildering thing is that we read in the news papers about squatter houses
are being demolished almost every month, everybody clap their hands and
praised the authority. But why is this time so much protests and rejections?
Is it because this time big sum of money is involved?
