WHEN EVEN THE DEAD CANNOT REST IN PEACE ?

Shock over the loss of burial ground

INANAM: Villagers in Kg Tatahan/Tamalang Silou are crying foul over the approval of a three-acre customary burial ground, including where a former Sabah Minister is buried, to an individual.

Kg Tatatah/Tamalang Silou village head, Gitom Mansanap, said the land had been declared as the Tatahan, Tamalang Silou and Tampasak burial ground by the leaders of the customary laws in 1957.

However, they were appalled that a Land Application 96010264 had been given to an individual on Sept. 9, 1996 by the Land and Survey Department.

According to him, among the personalities buried on the land were Datuk Richard Yap, who was Sabah Health Minister and Berjaya Matunggong Assemblyman, Haji Mohd Faisal Wong @ Michael.

They had to make an open appeal to Land and Survey Director Datuk Osman Jamal because prior to this all their complaints had not received any response whatsoever, he claimed.

Gitom recently visited the area together with the village security and development committee chairman (JKKK), Wesli Amit and village Condolence Association chairman, Atai Bodiri.

They had met with the land office in Nov 2003 to air their objection and had followed it up with a letter to the Director on Nov 17, 2003.

Gitom said at the moment there are about 50 graves on the land divided into Muslims and non-Muslims.

He said they had also lodged a police report at the Menggatal police station through a letter from the JKKK on Nov 23, 2005 as well as at the Kota Kinabalu police station on Jan 9, 2008 and Karamunsing police station on Jan. 22, 2009.

Gitom hoped the Land and Survey Department would consider the matter in the interest of the people and not just a certain individual.