Land in Lahad Datu sought for second-generation Felda settlers' housing

KOTA KINABALU: Felda settlers in Lahad Datu hope that a plot of at least 323ha (800 acres) can be allocated for second-generation housing, preferably in the Tungku area here.

Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (Gagasan Rakyat) Tungku division chief Datuk Abdul Hakim Gulam Hassan said an application had been sent to Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.

He said initially, Felda land in the area only housed some 1,000 settlers but the population has increased and most of the second generation do not have their own homes.

“There is not enough land to build more homes, so many of them still live with their parents in the same house.

"Some houses even have more than two families residing in them,” he said in a statement Wednesday (Aug 28).

Hakim said this long-standing issue is among the main matters Gagasan Rakyat's Tungku division is focussed on solving.

“We hope there will be good news from the Chief Minister soon,” he said, adding that this issue has affected the settlers for years.

In another development, he said his division has registered some 8,000 members across 160 branches.

Hakim said a division-level conference is scheduled for Sept 28 and among the matters to be raised is seat allocations for the state elections due next year.

“We hope Gagasan Rayat will be given a chance to contest the Tungku seat,” he said.

The seat has been held by Parti Warisan's Assaffal P. Alian since 2018.

Hakim said young voters will be a priority for the division as they have been identified as a key factor in the coming election.