Land has long been a contentious issue in Sabah, shaping policies, fueling disputes, and leaving communities displaced. Under successive administrations, evictions, land acquisitions, and legal battles have defined the state’s approach to development. From communal land reforms to corporate takeovers, the struggle for control over Sabah’s vast land resources continues.

A shift in land policies, but no clear framework

Communal land titles, once introduced to protect native rights, became a barrier to individual ownership. The Warisan-led government abolished the policy in 2018, arguing that it restricted economic opportunities for indigenous communities. The move was widely supported, but before a new framework could be implemented, Warisan lost power in 2020.

Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS), upon taking office, did not reinstate communal titles but instead issued land grants on a case-by-case basis. This lack of a structured policy has left many landowners in limbo, with unresolved disputes and uncertainty over future land rights.

Sabah Forest Industries: A high-stakes land grab?

The long-running Sabah Forest Industries (SFI) dispute underscores the high stakes involved in land ownership. Once a key player in the state’s forestry sector, SFI fell into receivership in 2016. In 2018, tycoon Tan Sri Syed Mokhtar Al-Bukhary’s company, Pelangi Prestasi Sdn Bhd, attempted to acquire a 98% stake in SFI for RM1.2 billion.

By 2021, the deal collapsed. The Sabah government refused to issue fresh timber licenses, citing concerns over compliance and sustainability. New conditions were imposed, and Syed Mokhtar pulled out.

Then came the state’s controversial land acquisition. Between December 2021 and August 2022, the Sabah government seized 12,000 hectares of SFI land, citing public interest. SFI’s receivers fought back, claiming the state was using the land for commercial logging rather than actual state projects.

The legal fight reached the Court of Appeal in November 2024, which issued a stay order on the state’s land acquisitions, freezing further action while the court reviewed the matter. The Sabah government maintained that the acquisition was “complete and final,” but the legal battle is far from over.

Allegations of private deals behind state takeovers

Leaked court documents suggest the state’s land acquisition may have been tied to private interests. SFI’s receivers claimed that the state’s move was not about conservation or public interest, but about transferring assets to politically connected entities.

The allegations named three companies—Halaman Ramrod Sdn Bhd, Jungle Greens, and Tenang Rimba Sdn Bhd—as having quietly taken over SFI’s former concessions. According to the receivers, all three firms are linked to Syed Mokhtar, raising questions about whether the state acted in the people’s interest or facilitated a private takeover under the guise of development.

Evictions: Forced displacement and policy reversals

Beyond corporate takeovers, land disputes have uprooted entire communities.

Under Shafie Apdal’s administration, evictions were handled with compensation and relocation plans. In Kampung Gana, Kota Marudu, residents were displaced due to development projects, but Warisan ensured alternative housing and compensation. “If we issue an eviction notice, we must provide a place for them to relocate because they have families, children,” Shafie said at the time.

Under Hajiji Noor’s leadership, evictions have continued—but with a stronger emphasis on enforcement. In 2024, the Bajau Laut community—the indigenous sea nomads of Sabah—saw their homes demolished in the Tun Sakaran Marine Park. The government cited illegal structures and national security concerns, leaving over 500 people homeless.

A few months later, nearly 300 families in Kampung Likas Lama, Kampung Bakau, and Kampung Lembaga Padi were served eviction notices to make way for a drainage project. Critics called the move “cruel and insensitive,” pointing out that many of those affected are Malaysian citizens who have lived in the area for generations.

In another case, residents of Rumah Pangsa Tanjung Aru, a low-cost housing complex, were ordered to vacate due to safety concerns and redevelopment plans. Many tenants, some of whom had lived there for decades, were caught off guard, with little clarity on relocation options.

Legal battles and public backlash

The pattern of evictions without clear relocation policies has sparked criticism from human rights groups and opposition leaders. While the government argues that these evictions are necessary for infrastructure projects and conservation, displaced communities often struggle to find new housing or receive adequate compensation.

The legal battle over SFI continues, with the courts deciding whether the state’s land acquisitions were lawful or a front for private interests. Meanwhile, affected communities in Likas and Semporna wait for answers, caught in the middle of development plans that prioritize state projects over their livelihoods.

Different governments, same unresolved issues

Sabah’s land disputes, forced evictions, and forestry controversies have persisted across two administrations.

Under Warisan, communal land titles were abolished but never replaced with a clear framework. Under GRS, land grants were issued, but without a structured policy to prevent disputes. Evictions under Shafie’s leadership were managed with compensation, while under Hajiji, they have become harsher and more frequent.

For many Sabahans, the pattern is clear—whether in the name of development or public interest, land remains a battleground, and those caught in the middle continue to pay the price. – February 8, 2025