Squatter areas with over 80% locals considered for village status: Sabah DCM

KOTA KINABALU – The Sabah state government is looking to resolve the issue of squatter areas by gazetting those with more than 80% local population into villages, said Sabah’s deputy chief minister, Datuk Seri Joachim Gunsalam.

Joachim, who is also the state local government and housing minister, said that this does not mean that all squatters would be gazetted and that certain criteria by local governments and state authorities will be set.

“If there is a substantial local population, we will consider gazetting those areas as kampungs,” Joachim told reporters after attending a private function at a resort here today. 

He said the exact number of squatter areas to be gazetted has yet to be determined as a comprehensive study of each home in these areas needs to be conducted first.

However, Joachim said locals’ welfare must be prioritised. 

“If there are more than 80% locals in the area, we have to take action, because they are all Sabahans, and we must work for the rakyat (people). This is the idea.”

The government is also looking into relocating squatter residents to proper residential sites whenever feasible, he said. 

Joachim said his ministry would also look into data collected in the ongoing census called “migrant digital registration” to identify and address any presence of irregular migrants in these areas.  

Joachim, in the recent Sabah assembly sitting, has said that legalising squatters around Sabah is likely the most “realistic” way to end the problem in the state. 

Sabah has 23,778 units of squatter houses. Sandakan tops the list with 6,516 units, followed by Semporna (4,297), Lahad Datu (3,711), and Tawau (3,600). 

These areas have been largely viewed as a hotbed for crime and drugs, as well as safe havens for irregular migrants.

Water and electricity theft also remain rampant, as such activities are often left unchecked in these areas. – The Vibes, June 1, 2023