KOTA KINABALU – 166 sea gypsies arrested during Ops Bangau by the Kota Kinabalu City Hall (DBKK) were handed to the Immgration Department today.
Kota Kinabalu Mayor Noorliza Awang Alip said a total of 169 people had been arrested on Thursday (March 4), including 43 men, 51 women, 27 male children, 32 female children, 11 male infants and five female infants.
“One individual has been released as advised by the Immigration Department, while two homeless persons were handed to the Community Welfare Services Department.
“The rest (166 people) have been handed to the Immigration Department to be sent to the Kimanis detention depot in Papar,” Noorliza said in a statement today.
Earlier this week, Sembulan residents had raised concerns over the rising number of members of the sea-faring community, some of whom had been wandering around and begging for alms near shops in their neighbourhood.
On Thursday, The Vibes reported that a total of 124 homeless sea gypsies who had been stranded due to travel restrictions under the movement control order (MCO), were rounded up and given shelter by DBKK.
Noorliza said that the DBKK had to make the move to prevent the matter from escalating into a major public nuisance.
She also said that all the detainees handed over to the immigration department have undergone Covid-19 screening on Friday, and all tested negative. – The Vibes, March 7, 2021
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