Demolition work begins on 156 squatter houses

Demolition work begins on 156 squatter houses

KOTA KINABALU: An eight-day demolition work on 156 squatter houses at Kg Lobou in Menggatal here commenced after a one-month grace period ended Friday.

It was learnt that the squatter settlement comprised foreigners, a majority with documents, and a few locals who turned the Housing and Town Development Board (LPPB)-owned land into their home over the past two years. Prior to the demolition works, an integrated operation led by the police was conducted on Sept 10 where those without documents were rounded up by the police before being sent to a temporary detention centre. City Hall Enforcement Director Abdul Mukti Muchlish said the demolition was a follow-up operation where illegal structures in the area are to be taken down, adding that they issued a seven-day eviction notice on Sept 11. It was learnt that 44 squatters appealed for a three-month grace period. However, they were only allowed a one-month grace period from Oct 14 following negotiations with the landowner, after which all illegal structures are to be demolished and cleared of squatters. No untoward incidents were reported on the first day of demolition work with many squatters seen cooperating by dismantling the structures themselves. "We do not encourage squatter settlements and have advised squatters to find proper accommodation instead of building their homes in such settlements," said Abdul Mukti. He urged those with information on squatter settlements to channel information to the City Hall Enforcement Hotline at 088-521700. To date, a total of 2,973 illegal structures have been demolished by City Hall since 2010.

See the original post:
Demolition work begins on 156 squatter houses