Datuk Lawrence Sinsua…Native landowners face significant hurdles in realizing the full potential of their lands due to legal restrictions.
KOTA KINABALU : – The long-standing issue of Native Land Titles (NT) in Sabah continues to present significant challenges for native landowners, limiting their economic potential and creating disparities in land value compared to non-native lands.
Datuk Lawrence Sinsua, Chairman of the Registered Trustees of the Kadazan Welfare Foundation (KWF) stresses the urgency of addressing these long-standing challenges, which date back to the British colonial era.
He pointed out that while the original intent of NT policies was to protect indigenous communities, their restrictive nature has inadvertently placed native landowners at a severe disadvantage in today’s economic landscape.
“Native landowners face significant hurdles in realizing the full potential of their lands due to legal restrictions that limit their market value and financial accessibility, ” he said in a statement today.
“Unlike non-native lands, NT properties often struggle to secure financing from financial institutions, making it difficult for owners to develop or monetize their assets.”
“As Sabah moves forward in its economic growth and modernization, it is crucial to reexamine the existing NT policies to strike a fair balance between preserving native rights and unlocking economic opportunities,” he elaborated.
He further highlighted that even NT lands located in prime areas alongside high-value commercial properties often suffer devaluation due to financial institutions’ reluctance to accept them as collateral.
According to Sinsua, this disparity prevents native landowners from fully participating in Sabah’s economic development and securing financial stability for future generations.
A Call for Government Action
The KWF urges the government to take decisive action in addressing this critical issue.
The organization also calls on policymakers to explore effective solutions that provide native landowners with greater flexibility, including:
· Policy Reforms
– Introducing balanced regulations that enable native landowners to access financing without compromising their customary rights.
· Public – Private Partnership
– Encouraging collaboration between the government and financial institutions to unlock the true economic potential of NT lands.
·
– Educating the public and stakeholders on the importance of equitable land policies to ensure sustainable development for all communities.
“This issue goes beyond land value—it is about economic justice for Sabah’s indigenous people. We must find the right balance to ensure that native landowners can benefit from Sabah’s economic progress while preserving their cultural heritage and rights,” added Sinsua.
Public Support Needed
The Registered Trustees of the Kadazan Welfare Foundation is committed to raising public awareness through social media campaigns and community engagement initiatives to bring this issue to the forefront of public discourse.
The organization encourages the public to support this cause and urges the government to recognize the urgent need for policy reforms that empower native landowners while fostering Sabah’s overall development.
