Ownership of the Community Lot Certificate in Sabah's Parks opens access to government assistance - Ewon

9 March 2024

By Wartawan Nabalu News

KOTA BELUD: Minister of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Datuk Ewon Benedick said that ownership of the Community Lot Certificate in Sabah Parks by landowners involved in Kampung Sayap opens access to government assistance.

He said this is because the lot certificate provides legal validity to landowners to continue agricultural activities on their land.

"This lot certificate is also important to enable landowners in the Sabah Parks or Kinabalu Park areas to have access to government assistance programs such as agricultural subsidies, entrepreneurship grants, and others that can be channeled to land ownership."

Ewon said that with the issuance of this certificate, the community will benefit, including the certificate holders having the assurance of the right to reside and cultivate in the certified areas, the areas granted with permits can be passed down to the closest family members and will not be subject to legal action under the Sabah Parks Enactment 1984 for offenses of occupying and cultivating within the Park areas.

"These certificate holders can also apply for subsidies from any government department or agency, including establishing cooperatives for the purpose of socio-economic development in the Kampung Sayap community," he said.

Ewon hopes that the issuance of the community lot certificate can ensure a better future for the village residents and that Sabah Parks can focus on conservation oversight activities in the area.

Meanwhile, Chairman of the Sabah Parks Trust Board, Peter Lintar, also expressed his gratitude to Datuk Ewon and all village leaders for their agreement on addressing land management issues in the village.

He said that the implementation of permits for occupying and cultivating in the Park areas in Kampung Sayap started in 2015.

"In 2009, the inventory work for plantations in the Mainland Parks Area, namely Banjran Crocker Park, Tawau Hills Park, and Kinabalu Park, was carried out and completed in 2010.

On February 20, 2015, the first dialogue between the Kg. Sayap community and the Park Management was attended by a total of 63 Kg. Sayap community members.

"After 2015, several series of workshops, dialogues, discussions, and study visits to the Kg. Sayap community were conducted to provide exposure to the community regarding community management modules in the Sabah Parks.

"After nine years of seeking a resolution, today we are addressing the issue of managing plantations in the Park in Kg. Sayap involving 70 Community Lot Certificate holders covering an area of 210.1 acres within the Kinabalu Park," he said.

He hopes that the villagers can make the best use of the community land lots by considering conservation needs and tourism opportunities in the village.