Sembulan demolition continues
Published on: Thursday, July 28, 2016
Kota Kinabalu: Squatters at Sembulan have again been reminded to move out to make way for on-going demolition works which are being done in stages. A total of 250 squatter homes have been identified in 35 acres of private land and another 200 squatter houses on a four-acre State land in the area. "I advise all the squatters to take the initiative to move out before we demolish the illegal structures in stages," said Mayor Datuk Yeo Boon Hai during a demolition operation held here, Wednesday.
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"In two to three weeks from now, we will go to court to gazette squatter settlements in this area as unsuitable for dwelling."He said City Hall will have a meeting and obtain reports from the Health Department as well as the Fire and Rescue Department before going to court on this matter."Our observations showed some have illegal wiring connections and there is also no proper waste system," he said. Meanwhile, a total of 18 illegal structures were torn down during the operation which began at 9am involving about 70 enforcement personnel from City Hall, Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd, Water Department and police.
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"Demolition notices have been issued, the structures are found to have many illegal extensions, unoccupied and not suitable for occupation," said Yeo. A total of 10 squatter houses which have been rebuilt in the area where 60 illegal structures were recently demolished were also among the 18 structures pulled down during the latest operation.
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Illegal structures found along the designated road reserve in the area were also torn down. Yeo also reminded city residents, including those visiting the city, that City Hall is now emphasising on anti-littering enforcement not only through compound but will take litterbugs to court. "Let the court decide on the punishment," he said. Meanwhile, Likas Assemblyman Junz Wong said the rubbish thrown into the sea from water villages in Tanjung Aru and Sembulan eventually accumulate at the Likas Bay. The rampant littering upstream Likas River also played a part in the heaps of rubbish built up there, he pointed out. "There is just so much rampant littering at Likas River that eventually flows into Likas Bay and under the bridge," he said in a statement. Wong, who is also Sabah DAP Secretary, said this in view of the tough action taken against five litterbugs living at the Sembulan water village on Monday. According to him, he supported the move, saying the city achieved "history" of sorts in the enforcement of the Anti-litter Bylaw 2005 on Monday.This came about after the Chief Justice of Sabah and Sarawak Tan Sri Richard Malanjum announced that offenders would be taken to court from July 25, at a gotong-royong involving City Hall and the environmental group from the Kota Kinabalu Court at Kampung Sembulan Tengah on Saturday last week. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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