'Using gangsters, fake documents'

Daily Express
05 July, 2007

Kuala Lumpur: Using strong-arm tactics and forged documents, some unscrupulous companies are alleged to have seized thousands of hectares belonging to locals in Sabah.Indonesian illegal immigrants doubling as gangsters for hire are also said to have been engaged by these companies to instil fear among the land owners if they resisted.According to the national news agency, Bernama, such malpractices have been ongoing for the past 15 years, especially in Lahad Datu, Sandakan and Kinabatangan.Force is usually employed to seize plots from the rightful owners while in other cases, forged documents are used to transfer ownership. The victims claim that this is despite the hundreds of police reports lodged against the perpetrators, some of whom are alleged to own public-listed companies.One of the victims, who only wants to be identified by his initials, HKF, is the owner of a 250-hectare (617-acre) oil palm plantation in Sandakan.Last week, he met the Inspector-General of Police, Tan Sri Musa Hassan, at the Federal Police Headquarters at Bukit Aman here to expose the menace to the "higher authorities" after he claimed that there was little action at the local level.Musa vowed to personally investigate the matter."I am seriously looking into the matter since this is the third state where gangsterism tactics are being deployed for selfish gains. I want proactive steps to be taken in order to curb this problem and we will thoroughly investigate the allegations."Since 2005, HKF claimed that he had been reeling under the pressure of an unscrupulous company said to have seized his plantation.Despite servicing a monthly instalment of RM48,000 for the plantation over the past two years, HKF claimed that about 500 illegal Indonesian immigrants employed by a powerful businessman had prevented him from entering his own land."To make matters worse, roads leading to my plantation were illegally diverted elsewhere. A large steel perimeter fence was also installed to prevent my entry."HKF said the thugs had once warned him that if he attempted to enter his plantation again, they would bury him alive.He claimed that he had lodged several police reports against the company over the last two years but had been advised not to mess with the thugs as they had been employed by a "powerful company".Last week, HKF went to the Securities Commission in Kuala Lumpur to lodge a report against the company but was advised by an officer to refer the matter to the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) as the latter has a 7.6 per cent share in the company."I lodged a report with EPF and the authorities have promised to look into the matter," he said.Subsequently, HKF met the IGP and was advised to make a formal complaint with the Federal Disciplinary Board for the alleged police inaction in Sandakan.