'Over our dead bodies!' This is what one village chief in Sabah's Penampang district had to say about the state government's decision to relocate a squatter colony to his area.

The village chief, who declined to be named, told malaysiakini that even the police or the army would not be able to contain their anger.

This unexpected opposition has led the state government to rethink its plan to move the Sri Tanjung squatters, who are presently living near the Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA), to an area some15km away in the predominantly Kadazandusun Penampang district.

Native chiefs or their representatives from the 36 villages in the district have put their signatures down to unanimously reject the proposal.

Bad elements

According to them, the Sri Tanjung colony ( left ) has many bad elements.

Despite Sabah Chief Minister Musa Aman's assurance that no illegal immigrants would be brought in, the village chiefs were doubtful.

They claimed that the squatters, who are mostly of Indonesian and Filipino origin, obtained their identity cards and citizenship through 'trickery and dubious' means.

After a state cabinet meeting yesterday, Musa said the state government has agreed to only allow half of the more than 2,000 squatters to be relocated near Kampung Maang while the rest would be housed at a different site, which is yet to be identified.

The village chiefs also have the strong backing of their elected representatives - Penampang MP Donald Mojuntin, Patutan MP Marcus Mojigoh and Moyog state assemblyperson Philip Lasimbang - on this issue.

Initially, Upko - the Kadazan-based party led by Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Bernard Dompok - was the first political party within the state's ruling coalition to raise this concern.

Since then, two other Kadazandusun-based parties PBS and PBRS have joined the bandwagon to oppose the relocation.

Dompok, who is a former chief minister, had also met Musa regarding this matter.

Airport dilemma

Musa told reporters after yesterday's meeting that the state government's decision was a unanimous one. This has not been disputed by any other quarters.

The latest development has put the state authorities in a dilemma, especially since squatter land is required urgently for the expansion of the Kota Kinabalu airport.

It is the last major airport in the Sabah-Sarawak region to be upgraded in the federal government's plan to promote tourism and investment in the two states.

According to officials, work should have started this February and now the opposition from the locals in Penampang could further delay the project.

Meanwhile, villagers have planned a mammoth gathering near Kampung Maang tomorrow to voice their objection.

Commenting on the dispute, leading local activist Patrick Sindu said it is common knowledge that many of the Sri Tanjung squatters are holding fake identity cards or those issued under suspicious circumstances.

"They are mostly Bugis from Indonesia," he added when contacted.

According to Sindu, who is also Consumer Association of Sabah and Labuan (Cash) president, the squatters should instead be quarantined, screened thoroughly and confined to an island either off Sandakan or Tawau as they originated from parts of the neighbouring country.