Not all airport squatters migrants

Kota Kinabalu: Maini Omol, 42, and his nephew Sabri Ismail, 31, are no longer able to put a roof over their heads.They have lived in the squatter colony adjacent to the Kota Kinabalu International Airport for decades, until City Hall started evicting them on Monday.

As demolition of the squatter houses continue until Thursday (today), the two have been making a last-ditch effort to end their housing woes.

They are also aware of the notice of eviction issued on Oct 19.

But taking leave from work is not working out for the both of them, knowing they will no longer have a home to go to by the end of today.

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Maini, a lorry driver and Sabri, an air-conditioning installer, are breadwinners for 13 people, their wives and children.

They were among a bunch of Malaysians squatting on the State land since 1980s, alongside some foreign migrants as neighbours.

"We are Kadazans," said Maini, in denying allegations by Netizens that they were all foreign migrants in the squatter area.

Maini said Monday's eviction operation was not the first time they were forced out of their homes.

In 2008, a similar operation held at the Jalan Bunga Raya squatter colony, saw the squatters offered houses for rent at Taman Sri Rugading by the local government.

But as it turned out, he was not eligible for the unit.

The offer, a RM120 a month rented unit, was for heads of households. But the norm for a squatter house is to shelter more than just one family, he explained.

"I had no choice but to return and rebuild my home at Bunga Raya as my income as a lorry driver is unstable.

"I still have a few children to put through school and with me taking more leave now for this, I won't be making much by end of the month," he said.

Meanwhile, Sabri, a father of three, learnt his home would be destroyed the same day his son was delivered in hospital.

He was a second generation family who squatted on the land since 1985 and was originally from Papar.

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Sabri said he had exhausted all venues to end his problem and disappointed to know that his five-day-old son will now have no home to go to when his wife is discharged from the hospital.

On Monday, it is understood the integrated operation led by City Hall involved various departments, excluding the Immigration Department and the Welfare Department.

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