Squatters relocated to pave way for new courthouse
Published on: Thursday, October 02, 2014
KOTA KINABALU: All but six of the 48 families squatting on government land in Jalan Shariff Osman have been relocated to their new homes in the Kinarut Ria People's Housing Project (PPR) on Wednesday.The six who could not secure their own place would be forced to stay with relatives in the PPR while the local authority continues to find a solution to their housing problem. The group is part of 66 squatter families who have been staying there since the 70s and had to move out following the Government's plan to develop the area and construct the new courthouse building.
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"I hope the six families will be given their respective homes soon because if the Government can allocate 1,200 houses for the people from Pulau Gaya, they should be able to give another six houses for these locals," said Api-Api Assemblywoman Christina Liew when met at the site.However, Liew commended the Government, especially the local authority and the Local Government and Housing Ministry, for their willingness to work together with the residents in Kg Shariff Osman."Although they are squatting illegally, the Government was still willing to provide for them comfortable housing when they are forced to move away from this place," she said.The villagers received a notice from the local authority in July last year to move out of the land.
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However, due to financial reasons, the 48 families could not afford to live in other rented homes in the city.Efforts by several NGOs, individuals and churches finally bore fruits when 42 units of houses in PPR Kinarut Ria were approved for the villagers.
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"The contractor who is doing the works here also should be commended for their compassionate attitude towards the villagers. They have decided to fund the villagers' deposit and moving fees, which is RM1,370 each, to see them safely relocated," she said.According to a member of an NGO who was at the site, the six families failed to get their own place due to limited space in the PPR. Furthermore, during a census made by the ministry, the six families were not in the village at the time.One of the villagers who failed to get a house, Mariama Jouyah, 62, said she is extremely frustrated that she would be forced to live with others while waiting for her house."I've been staying here since 1974 and I have accumulated a lot of stuff. I have nowhere to go. I am worried, where can I put all my stuff? Outside? What if it rains? I was told to live with one of my children. But they have their own stuff too. "I really hope that we would get our own house soon. I don't know how long we would be made to wait, nobody told us anything," she said, sadly.Mariama added she and her household were away during the census, attending a funeral back in their village in Membakut.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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