Tawau: Occupants of some 40 houses in Kg Tanjung Batu Tengah near Bukit Kukusan - where a huge boulder came crashing down during blasting by a quarry firm recently - have started to vacate following expiry of the eviction notice to move out from the 8.06 acre site, Monday.Lawyer Evan Chee Vu Seong, Representing the land owner company, said the order was actually issued by the court on Aug. 24, last year, but was extended to give the occupants ample time to move out.
According to him, the company had also been flexible with the occupants based on five eviction notices issued until May this year. "The company offered compensation of RM1,000 to the occupants who volunteered to dismantle and vacate the houses themselves without us (company) being involved," he said.
The dismantling of the structures started from 9am until 5pm for three days and witnessed by representatives from the Tawau Court, lawyer, police and Rela.
Two excavators were also on stand by.
One of the occupants, Andi Mariyati Andi Hasape, 55, said it was very difficult for them to leave as they had been staying for more than 10 years. She and her children would be putting up temporarily at a friend's house until they are given assistance by the Government.
Tanjung Batu Assemblywoman Datuk Hamisa Samat said those affected would be resettled at the Taman Semarak People Housing Project settlement.
Nonetheless, she hoped they would be patient as she was informed by the Municipal Council President Datuk Ismail Mayakob that the resettlement process could only be done earliest by middle of June due to security factor and preparation of basic amenities.
"Assistance for them to resettle will be given but only to locals and according to the list of names provided by the court," she said, adding that efforts were also being done to open up land for those involved.
Among those at the location were Sri Tanjung Assemblyman Chan Foong Hin, PAS Kalabakan public complaint centre coordinator Usman Madeaming and his Tanjung Batu colleague, Fatmawaty Muhd Yusuf.
In the incident early this year, the huge boulder flattened several homes and left nine people injured.
Environmental activists have campaigned for the site which gives a vantage view of Tawau township to be undisturbed but without success.
