KOTA KINABALU: Kota Kinabalu City hall is setting the right course to gradually improve the cityscape by dealing with the vagrants, illegal immigrants and squatters issues, said SAPP Youth deputy chief Dexter Chin.
“The new mayor’s strategy is on the right track. Issues like these should be addressed effectively and the enforcement agencies should be on alert at all times. Not only our city’s image should be protected, problems like these are causing various social, security and health issues,” he pointed out.
Chin, also a member of Perikatan Nasional Youth committee said squatters within the DBKK area are a health menace as many would hide or refuse to report to authorities even if having Covid-19 symptoms.
Chin said squatters have sprung up in Kota Kinabalu during the past few years which include the hill behind SJKC Che Hwa Kolombong, the area opposite Sabah Trade Centre, Tanjung Lipat and the land opposite the Sabah Government Printing Department (Jabatan Cetak Kerajaan Sabah).
Dexter disclosed that SAPP Youth are actively identifying and providing information about squatters within the city areas to authorities and seen remarkable results.
DBKK announced it launched the “Ops Roboh” last Wednesday and Thursday (17-18 March) where 85 illegal housing were demolished to curb social problems such as water theft, illegal electricity connections, drugs and gambling. DBKK also announced that it will continue to take actions in accordance with the law against several other identified squatters.
On 4 March, DBKK launched an “Ops Bangau” to deal with 132 Palau’ (stateless sea gypsy from the east coast of Sabah) who squatted in Sembulan.-pr/BNN
