Lidan
PENAMPANG (Aug 29): The 61-year wait for the villagers of Kg Togudon to have land titles has ended with the launch of land surveying under the Sabah Native Land Services (PANTAS) programme, today.
The villagers also expressed their appreciation to the Minister of Entrepreneurship and Cooperative Development cum Penampang Member of Parliament Datuk Ewon Benedick for his efforts to make their dreams come true.
Chairman of the Village Development and Security Committee (JKKK) Kg Togudon, Lidan Galasun, expressed his appreciation to the Sabah government and Ewon, for the implementation of land surveying in the village.
“We have been waiting for years, leaders have been in and out of power, but our application was never successful. Meanwhile, Ewon managed to complete it in less than five years.
“With the land title, it will be easier for us to get various assistance from the government,” he said.
Gukim
Former village head Gukim Gosuit said applications for land surveying in the village had been submitted for many years but were unsuccessful.
“In preparation for the 2022 general election, one of the main issues we put forward to be resolved by our elected representatives is land ownership.
“Thanks to God, thanks to the state government and to Penampang MP Datuk Ewon for his efforts, finally the land survey in our village was carried out through the PANTAS programme. This is what we have been waiting for all this time,” he said.
Rita
Another villager, Rita Manuel, also expressed her gratitude to Ewon for his determination to help the villagers.
“During the discussion about land surveying in our village, I was still skeptical because I didn’t want to be given false hope. But today after the launch of land surveying, it has given us great faith and confidence and hope.
“We have been waiting for the land survey and title since a long time ago and today is a history for the villagers who will receive their respective land title next year.
“Thank you for the commitment of Datuk Ewon and the state government who are very concerned about the problems and needs of the villagers,” she said.
Another villager, Julianus Thomas, said Ewon’s words of encouragement when he visited the village 20 years ago have now come true.
“Twenty years ago, he (Ewon) came to our village when he was the head of the Upko Komulakan together with the villagers of Kg Togudon and among his words at that time to us was about the continued effort to obtain land title for the villagers. Today, what he said has come true.
“I am very happy because his words are a blessing to the villagers today,” he said.
Ewon said the launch of land surveying in Kg Togudon is the best gift in conjunction with the Malaysia Day celebrations. He hopes that land surveying under the PANTAS programme, which was first implemented in Penampang, will continue to other villages.
“As Penampang MP, I would like to thank Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Hajiji Noor for agreeing to implement the PANTAS programme here.
“This land survey involves an area of 982 hectares or around 2,400 acres which was applied for by about 500 villagers who have been waiting for land ownership since the village was established in the 1920s.
“Land surveying is expected to be completed in May 2025 and the titles are expected to be completed by the end of next year,” he said after launching the land surveying.
Ewon is confident that the ownership of the land titles will benefit the villagers including making it easier for them to receive agriculture and entrepreneurship aid from the government.
He said as a member of the Federal Cabinet, he will ensure that the PANTAS programme continues in the 13th Malaysia Plan (2026-2030).
“I raised this matter during the discussion of the Bumiputera Economic Agenda Transformation Plan that was launched by the Prime Minister a few weeks ago, stating the importance of land ownership to the development of the Bumiputera community, especially the natives in Sabah.
“The Cabinet has recorded my views and I will continue to fight so that in RMK-13, the appropriate allocation can be channeled to the Sabah government, especially to the Land and Survey Department,” he said.
Ewon added he will request the Chief Minister and the Department of Lands and Surveys that land surveying under the PANTAS programme is also carried out in other villages in the Penampang district, especially areas with high gradients.
“This is also one of the demands of the people of Penampang and as a representative of the people, it is my responsibility to be part of the solution to this problem,” he said.
