MONDAY-3RD MARCH 2008-JUSTIN SAYS HE DID NOT SUPPORT LAND APPLICATION APPROVAL

Justin says he did not support land application approval

KENINGAU:
The Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate for Bingkor, Justin Guka, has strongly denied his involvement in giving support to the approval of application for 2,500 acres of Bingkor Native Reserve (BNR) by 50 outsiders. “I was never directly involved in supporting the approval of the land,” he told The Borneo Post when commenting on the issue which was played up by the opposition, especially Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), during their campaign for the March 8 election. Incumbent Justin is facing two former Bingkor assemblymen, PKR Vice President Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan and Thomas Anggan (independent). Setia candidate Victor Leonardus is also vying for the seat. Justin said a letter from the State Land and Survey Department director, Bil: L. S. 1302.1.1/Vol. V (327)/(-rhl) dated February 11, 2008, was the answer to the PKR allegation. The letter forwarded to the Keningau Assistant Collector Land Revenue (ACLR) among others, said the land application (BNR) for livestock by 50 participants from Kampung Bunga Raya, Bingkor which was seconded (supported) at the Keningau Land Utilization Committee (LUC) meeting on November 7, 2007 was more suitable for a village reserve. The letter also rejected the application, stating that it could not be applied by any individual except for village reserve purpose. Justin said the letter had been circulated to all the Bingkor people to prove that he was not involved in approving the land application. “I also promise to struggle and defend the right of the people,” he said, adding PKR brought up the issue as they wanted to confuse the people and seek their sympathy.