KOTA KINABALU – Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) Youth deputy chief Dexter Chin has lauded the demolition of squatter houses by Kota Kinabalu City Hall recently.
Chin said not only did the squatter settlement tarnish the city’s image, it also gave rise to social, security and health issues.
“Illegal houses have to be demolished to curb social problems, such as water theft, illegal electricity connections, drugs and gambling.
“They are also a health menace as many (residents) will hide and refuse to report to the authorities if they have Covid-19 symptoms,” he said in a statement today.
Chin, who is also a member of the Perikatan Nasional Youth committee, said Mayor Noorliza Awang Alip’s is employing the right strategy to improve the cityscape by dealing with vagrant, illegal immigrant and squatter issues.
Illegal houses have to be demolished to curb social problems, such as water theft, illegal electricity connections, drugs and gambling.
He praised the mayor’s decision to launch Op Roboh, which saw its first operation on Wednesday and Thursday, to demolish 85 illegal houses.
On March 4, City Hall had also launched Op Bangau to deal with 132 Palauh (stateless sea gypsies from the east coast of Sabah) squatters in Sembulan.
“Squatters have sprung up in Kota Kinabalu over the past few years, including at the hill behind SJK(C) Che Hwa Kolombong, the area opposite the Sabah Trade Centre, Tg Lipat, and the land opposite the Sabah Government Printing Department.
“SAPP Youth is actively identifying and providing information about squatters within the city to authorities and this has produced remarkable results.” – The Vibes, March 21, 2021
