A villager seen dismantling his own home in Kg Jimpangah, Beaufort after the eviction grace period ended over the weekend.
KOTA KINABALU: All remaining villagers in Beaufort district's Kampung Jimpangah have vacated their homes following a five-day grace period granted by the landowner in the court-ordered eviction involving 53 households.
Consumers Front of Sabah (CFOS) secretary-general Hashima Hasbullah said when contacted on Tuesday (May 27) that all the residents had left, some tearing down their homes before relocating.
She said only 18 houses remain standing, believed to be under private arrangements between the landowner and the occupants.
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An amicable agreement had allowed long-time residents, many of whose families had occupied the land for over 70 years, to move out without incident.
Hashima also said she received information that one of the affected villagers may now be living in his car.
“We’re currently trying to locate him to check on his condition,” she said.
Demolition began on Wednesday (May 21) and was postponed after four houses were torn down and some residents refused to leave. Since then, no further demolition has been carried out by the landowner.
Villager David Jimi, 40, said he has since taken down his house and is now living with a relative elsewhere.
“I’ve accepted what happened. I’m okay, but now it takes longer to get to work. I don’t have a home anymore and am relying on my relative’s kindness,” he said when contacted.
David, who works in Beaufort town, said he used to take the bus to work daily, but now has to rely on friends to give him rides as he lives further away.
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“I used to just hop on the bus. Now I’m hitching rides from a friend’s place since it’s too far to walk,” he added.
The situation in Kg Jimpangah sparked criticism last week after videos circulated online showing families in tears as excavators moved in.
The eviction was carried out following a court order obtained by the landowner, who claimed legal ownership of the 5.34ha (13.2-acre) site.
Villagers had earlier appealed for intervention from the state government, and a temporary halt was granted after CFOS and community representatives met with Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.
On May 21, Land and Survey Department director Datuk Bernard Liew confirmed that the state Cabinet had instructed him to find a solution, although he said he could not disclose any decision until reporting back to the Chief Minister.
The affected families had lived in Kg Jimpangah for generations, many of them descendants of rubber tappers who once worked for the British Borneo Para Rubber Company Ltd. The land, once owned by the British North Borneo Company, was later sold to a private entity and remains under country lease (CL) status.
A total of 53 homes and about 200 residents were subject to the eviction notice issued on May 7. The original demolition exercise was halted last week after some villagers refused to vacate, prompting the landowner to grant a grace period until Sunday (May 25).
