He said it was regrettable that the views and concerns of the islanders were not heard during a dialogue session on the move on Wednesday.
“The whole dialogue session conducted yesterday (Wednesday) was not to listen to the people ’s concern and apprehension.
It was more of a ‘just to let you know’ session,” he said.
According to the report, a SEDIA spokesman claimed to have carried out a study on Pulau Gaya since 2011, but was it carried out in Kinarut? “There are locals in Kg Gusi who have been squatting on government land for more than 30 years.
“Not only have their land applications being rejected, now the land that they have considered to be their homes are given away to outsiders and all for the sake of the so called development.
“What do the good folk of Kinarut get out of this whole development process? Instead, they have the added worry to their security. The folks fear that the Kinarut social fabric will be compromised with the introduction of the 1,200 islanders,” Edward said.
“On the other side of the coin, one questions the thought behind housing the Pulau Gaya islanders in five-story building? Such an act is akin to pulling fish out of water.
“The islanders rely on the sea for their livelihood. To relocate them to concrete surroundings may suffocate them further,” he said.
The Borneo Post
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