Latest news with #JTU
Borneo Post
5 days ago
- Business
- Borneo Post
SMM takes legal action against MalaysiaNow over alleged defamatory publications
KOTA KINABALU (July 25): Sabah Mineral Management Sdn Bhd (SMM) has initiated legal action against MalaysiaNow over a series of articles and videos it claims are defamatory, false and misleading. The publications alleged that SMM had awarded a prospecting license to Bumi Suria Sdn Bhd, an accusation SMM strongly denies. In a statement on Friday, SMM said MalaysiaNow had failed to seek clarification or comment from the company prior to publication. 'The publications were biased, one-sided, and appear to be a calculated attempt to defame SMM, its directors, and officers,' it said. To clarify the matter, SMM outlined the following points: 1. SMM Has No Authority to Issue Prospecting Licences Under the Sabah Mining Ordinance 1960, only the Department of Lands and Surveys Sabah (JTU) has jurisdiction to issue such licences. This was confirmed by the JTU director in a press statement dated 24 July 2025. No licence — prospecting or otherwise — has ever been issued to Bumi Suria. 2. SMM's Role and Jurisdiction SMM acts as a central management body appointed by the State Government to conduct technical and financial due diligence on licence applications and monitor regulatory compliance. SMM may issue a Conditional Letter of Permission to Apply for a Prospecting Licence after deliberation by its Board of Directors, but this letter does not confer any licence. Applicants must undergo due diligence and submit documentation for further review by the relevant government agencies.
Daily Express
19-06-2025
- General
- Daily Express
500 Ranau folks finally receive their land titles
Published on: Thursday, June 19, 2025 Published on: Thu, Jun 19, 2025 By: Clarence Dol Text Size: Abidin and others with some of the land title recipients. RANAU: More than 500 residents in the three villages here finally received their land titles applied for through the Land and Survey Department's (JTU) Pantas programme. The land titles were distributed by the Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister Datuk Abidin Madingkir during the Kg Narawang, Kg Waluhu and Kg Lutut Pantas Programme Land Title handover ceremony at Mini Dewan Kg Narawang on Monday. Advertisement Abidin said 396 land titles were submitted at the event, while another 148 would be submitted next month after all the process is complete. 'We gather here because we have a significant event for the three villages. We know that this land has long been occupied by the villagers but legal ownership has not been obtained due to the difficulty of obtaining land titles. 'Finally, today the dream of the people to get a land title can be realised. We want to express our gratitude to Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor as his initiative for holding this Pantas programme throughout the state,' he said. Abidin, who is also Paginatan Assemblyman, also thanked JTU for its commitment to implement a significant government programme for the people. He said the next Pantas programme would be in Suminimpod Mukim as well as in the Tinanom, Kodop and Kigiwit. For Kg Bongkud and Namaus, he said, the approval of the Pantas programme was already obtained, and is only waiting for the allocation to be issued. 'Congratulations to all the recipients of the land titles. Hopefully, they can be passed down to our grandchildren as this is the most precious treasure. 'As Paginatan wakil rakyat, I urge all residents of the three villages to continue supporting Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) on the basis of the commitment and continued efforts of the government to prosper the people's lives. 'The government should be supported for the sake of development programmes through the Sabah Maju Jaya Development Plan (SMJ),' he said. Meanwhile, JTU representative, Saat Durasit said the department's initial target was to issue only 500 land titles through Pantas but after entering the field, it has successfully completed the land marking of about 600 land titles. 'Pantas measurement is very popular. In the Ranau parliamentary constituency, all state constituencies have their own Pantas programme but the most active is in Paginatan. 'We congratulate Datuk Abidin because he really worked hard to support this Pantas programme. JTU will always implement this programme as long as the government's allocation is still available,' he said. Village Head Nahur Masipah, representing the three villages, thanked Abidin because for his hard work, the villagers could now confirm land ownership after receiving the land titles. 'Thanks also to JTU for realising our dream of having a land title to the land we have long been working on. 'This is a history for us in Kg Narawang, Kg Lutut and Kg Waluhu for receiving a large number of land titles. This historic day has changed our lives for the better,' he said. Also present were Assistant Director of JTU Nurul Ikshan Bin Ibrahim, Assistant District Officer Florencia Padasian, District Head OKK Muhasip Hj Rauman, PPHT Ranau Jaidi Gulis, PPM Hishamudin Harun, Special Officer to Datuk Abidin Madingkir, Juis Konsuling, CDO Jipili Sigal and village leaders. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Daily Express
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Daily Express
Increase manpower for Pantas: Tangau
Published on: Thursday, June 12, 2025 Published on: Thu, Jun 12, 2025 Text Size: Some villagers looking at the land area in Tuaran which have been gazetted under Pantas. KIULU: Tuaran MP Datuk Seri Wilfred Madius Tangau urged the State Government to increase manpower for the Native Land Services Management Programme of Sabah (Pantas) under the Department of Lands and Surveys (JTU). He said he was informed that the number of personnel in the Pantas Survey Unit has decreased from 60 people — originally organised into 12 teams of five members each — to only 40 people in eight teams of five members each. Advertisement 'The documentation team, which once had eight personnel, has only three now,' he said while officiating a Pantas dialogue programme at Kg Lokos Hall, here. He voiced concern that the shortage of manpower would affect the use of Federal Government funding amounting to RM100 million (RM20 million annually) allocated under the 12th Malaysia Plan from 2021 to 2025. According to JTU sources, only RM68 million has been spent - RM20 million in 2021; RM6.97 million in 2022; RM10 million in 2023; RM20 million in 2024; and RM12 million projected for 2025 — falling short of the RM100 million allocation, leaving RM31 million unused. As MP, Madius said, he consistently raised the issue in the Dewan Rakyat to advocate for increased federal allocations to ensure titles can be issued for Native Customary Rights (NCR) lands. 'However, if JTU lacks the capacity to implement the programme, then all our efforts will be in vain. 'Overall, the people of Sabah are grateful to both the Federal and State Governments for implementing the Pantas programme. 'Since its inception in 2011 up to 2025, the programme has benefitted 84,614 customary landowners across Sabah, covering a total area of 484,025.451 acres,' he said. Madius said the Tuaran Parliamentary Service Centre would submit proposals for several more villages to be included in the Pantas land survey initiative. Also present at the event were Kiulu Sub-district Chief OKK Kumin Gapai, Kotunuan Lama Village Chief Akim Kuling, Lokos Village Chief Steven Kimbin and Kg. Lokos Village Development and Security Committee (JKKK) Chairman Aloysius Wong, along with representatives from JTU. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Daily Express
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Daily Express
Madius urges manpower boost for native land survey programme
Published on: Tuesday, June 10, 2025 Published on: Tue, Jun 10, 2025 Text Size: KOTA KINABALU: Tuaran MP Datuk Seri Wilfred Madius Tangau has called on the Sabah government to increase staffing for the Native Land Services Management Programme (PANTAS) under the Land and Survey Department (JTU). He noted a drop in manpower—from 60 to 40 in survey teams, and from 8 to 3 in documentation staff—hampering effective implementation. Advertisement This shortfall, he said, has prevented full utilization of the RM100 million federal allocation under the 12th Malaysia Plan (2021–2025), with only RM68 million spent so far. Speaking at a PANTAS dialogue in Kg. Lokos, Madius emphasized the programme's importance in issuing land grants to native Sabahans, which has benefited over 84,000 landowners across 484,025 acres since 2011. He stressed that without adequate staffing, ongoing efforts and federal support may go to waste. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Daily Express
23-05-2025
- General
- Daily Express
Demolition of houses postponed till Sunday
Published on: Friday, May 23, 2025 Published on: Fri, May 23, 2025 By: Nora Ahmad Text Size: Residents being comforted after witnessing their homes being demolished under a court order in Kg Jimpangah, Beaufort. Kota Kinabalu: The demolition of houses in Kg Jimpangah, Beaufort, which began on Wednesday, has been postponed until Sunday after residents refused to vacate their houses. According to Sabah Consumer Front Association (CFOS) Sec-Gen Hashima Hasbullah, the demolition was halted after the landowner agreed to grant residents until May 25 to vacate. 'The demolition work began at 10am on Wednesday and four houses were partially demolished. Hashima said there was also a letter from the Lands and Surveys Department (JTU) addressed to the landowner requesting a postponement of the process. 'A letter from the JTU Director was issued to request a delay in the eviction, accompanied by a letter from the Chief Minister's Office. 'However, whether the eviction is postponed or cancelled is entirely at the discretion of the landowner, as this involves a court order,' she said. Advertisement It is understood that around 200 residents are facing eviction from land they have occupied for the past 80 years. A total of 53 houses are affected by the eviction order, involving approximately four hectares, following a court notice issued on May 7. Asked about the status of the land, Hashima clarified that it is classified as country lease (CL) land, which complicates the process. 'The land originally belonged to the British North Borneo Company since 1911 before it was transferred to a rubber company. The ancestors of the current residents worked and lived there. 'After independence, the residents were allowed to remain in the area. Eventually, they were supposed to apply for the land to be designated as a village settlement. 'Applications were submitted since 1991, but the residents in early 2024 were informed through court documents that the land now belongs to someone else,' she said. Beaufort Member of Parliament Datuk Siti Aminah Aching said she is working to arrange a meeting with the landowner. The former Deputy Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities said the meeting is part of her efforts to appeal to the landowner to extend the deadline for vacating the area. 'This issue deeply affects me as well because the residents involved are locals and voters in my constituency. 'I have tried from the beginning to engage with the relevant parties, but efforts have been unsuccessful until I received news that the residents would have to leave the land soon,' Siti Aminah said. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
