Penampang Leaders Urge Swift Action as Landslide Threat Persists

23 September 2025

PENAMPANG: Penampang Member of Parliament Datuk Ewon Benedick, together with Chairman of the Malaysian Plantation and Commodities Institute Datuk Donald Peter Mojuntin and Special Duties Officer to the Minister of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives (MEDC) Billy Joe Dominic, have taken swift action following the landslides in Kampung Kandazon, Kampung Botung and Kampung Kuai.

They have tasked the Moyog Penampang Community Welfare Association with working closely alongside the Village Development and Security Committee (JKKK) of Kampung Kuai, led by Katherine Jikinon, and the JKKK of Kampung Kandazon, headed by Christopher Mojitoh, to coordinate immediate support for the affected residents.

The cooperation is intended to ensure continuous monitoring while also identifying ways to support the affected residents, including providing temporary canvas shelters and food baskets.

Chairman of the Moyog Penampang Community Welfare Association, Billy Jinawat, explained that he is regularly contacted by Datuk Donald Peter Mojuntin, Billy Joe Dominic on behalf of Datuk Ewon Benedick, and staff of the Penampang Parliamentary Service Centre to obtain the latest updates from the affected areas.

“Whenever there is a problem, I contact them to discuss the next steps to be taken, whether in relation to shortages of aid or additional needs on the ground,” he said.

He emphasised that the association had been entrusted to work with the JKKKs in Kuai and Kandazon, as they play a vital role in reaching the affected villages, including helping residents who have lost their homes, tackling issues such as severed road access, and managing the distribution of food baskets.

The association, together with the youth groups, villagers and both JKKKs, has conducted gotong-royong (communal work) to install canvas sheets as temporary shelters. However, Billy stressed that this measure is only a stopgap while awaiting permanent solutions from the authorities, such as proper drainage systems, gabions and erosion-control structures.

“Through joint monitoring with the JKKKs, we found that several areas remain at high risk of landslides, particularly along roadside slopes. Residents are deeply concerned that further incidents may occur,” he said.

He therefore urged the authorities to take immediate action, noting that previous complaints had not received a satisfactory response.

“The responsible parties must come down at once and work directly with the JKKKs to resolve this matter. We do not want it dragged back and forth without a concrete solution,” he added.