LANGKAWI – A Kedah government-linked company (GLC) has initiated the process of demolishing 89 houses which were erected illegally at the Bukit Malut settlement here, following a court order in April.
The demolition process began yesterday and will last for five days, said lawyer Muhamad Aiman Mohd Nahzery, representing the landowner Permodalan Kedah Bhd (PKB).
“The demolition would start with abandoned homes and those under construction to stop any new trespassers into the land.
“We have obtained information that the land is being sold without PKB’s approval as the landowner,” Aiman told journalists here when met recently.
The process to remove illegal structures was also meant as a deterrent against settlers further encroaching into PKB’s lands.
Bukit Malut was meant as a settlement for around 10,000 refugees from Myanmar in the 1970s who claimed Malay ancestry and were originally from Kedah.
Due to the intervention from the United Nations, the Home Ministry then allowed the refugees to enjoy a temporary stay at the settlement where they ventured into fishing and cottage industries, while a good number of them worked in the tourism sector.
Over the past five decades, the once tiny community has grown to over 100,000 people, posing a social concern for residents here.
Malaysian Nature Society’s (MNS) Kedah chapter chairman Eric R. Sinnaya said that the settlement can cause environmental degradation because there is neither a proper sewerage system in place nor proper sanitisation practices.
“Household waste is literally discarded into the open sea.”
To this, Aiman said the demolition will send a clear signal to stop any sale of the land.
“We have given the squatters ample time with eviction notices issued last year.”
The demolition will be conducted by PKB under the supervision of 120 enforcement personnel from the Langkawi municipal council, police and civilian uniform groups such as Rela and the civil defence.
Bukit Malut was reportedly also marked for development of a saloon car racetrack, a resort and commercial activities, despite unhappiness from some quarters over the move.
It is learnt that those presently living in the settlement would be relocated to a housing estate in Kuah. – The Vibes, June 28, 2022
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