HUNDREDS of villagers from Sembulan Tengah expressed their frustration to government officials on Saturday over a two-week eviction notice issued to them earlier this week.
The notice, affecting over 105 residents of the water village, was served on Thursday, sparking outrage among the community.
During a dialogue session at the Sembulan Community Hall, village spokesperson Osman Omar Khan warned that residents would take to the streets if their demands were not met.
The villagers are calling on the state government to reinstate their land titles, officially recognize the 3.5-acre area as a village, or provide alternative housing assistance.
He also called for the local government to retract the eviction notice.
“We attempted to renew our leases but were denied because the government has plans to develop the area,” said Osman when highlighting the villagers' plights.
Sembulan, once a traditional fishing village in the heart of Kota Kinabalu, has been earmarked for gentrification under the Sembulan Urban Renewal Scheme.
A revised version of the scheme was given the nod by the Sabah Cabinet on May 15 this year.
However, the spat over the issue was nothing new. Similar dialogues have been held twice in 2017 and 2019 but no solution.
The dialogue, organised by Kota Kinabalu City Hall (DBKK), was attended by Kota Kinabalu Mayor Datuk Sabin Samitah, Putatan MP and Deputy Chief Minister III Datuk Shahelmy Yahya, and Petagas Assemblyman Awang Ahmad Sah Sahari.
Sembulan is under the Putatan parliamentary constituency, but the state government has given DBKK the authority over the area.
During the briefing, Mayor Sabin explained that the Sembulan Urban Renewal Scheme has been in development since the early 1990s, with the first phase nearly completed.
However, the second phase, involving the 37-acre area where Sembulan Tengah is located, has faced delays due to disputes over commercial agreements.
Sabin disclosed that agreements with several private companies were signed between 1993 and 1997.
He added that the leases for 105 lots have already expired, while 64 are still active.
“Those with active leases will be compensated, while those with expired leases will receive a form of token, to be decided by the state government,” he said.
Despite this, the villagers remain dissatisfied and are demanding the government retract the eviction notice and provide a more comprehensive resolution.
Sabin declined to retract the notice but proposed a follow-up meeting with the villagers, scheduled for October 8. - September 22, 202
