KINABATANGAN: Residents of Kg Pengkalan Bukit Garam, here, have been advised to relocate as the village is no longer safe to occupy. Deputy Chief Minister cum Works Minister, Datuk Seri Bung Moktar said a new area has been prepared for the affected residents.
The matter was decided by the Security Committee and the Kinabatangan District Council not long ago to resolve the Kg Pengkalan Bukit Garam squatters issue.
He said village is not only unsafe but in terms of health also very worrying apart from the houses which are disorganised in all aspects.
This includes no planning, facilities and even its location is close to the Kinabatangan River and often prone to floods when heavy rains occur or when river water level rises.
“The Government has prepared a new site for the residents of this village. However, some of them are reluctant to evacuate and thus face risks especially when there is a major flood.
“Some residents who still feel the village is safe should be aware that the situation is the opposite,” said the Kinabatangan MP, after attending a briefing on Kinabatangan infrastructure development at the Kinabatangan District Council, Wednesday.
Immediately after the briefing, he visited the site of a landslide incident that affected several houses in Kampung Warisan. Bung also urged people statewide not to build houses or any structural premises on road reserves.
“I advise people not to build close to roads as roads will always develop over time.
“This action could cause a loss to every homeowner. Every compensation given is based on the government’s ability and not based on the owner’s cost of structures.
“Moreover, they know road reserves cannot be occupied but they still go ahead,” he said.
Bung said residents whose houses are affected by the Pan Borneo project around Kinabatangan were provided a piece of land to rebuild their homes.
Bung also said that there are road construction projects to be constructed in Tongod.
This includes the road that connects Linayukan in Tongod and Sinaron in Keningau worth more than RM300 million and will be launched after the Hari Raya Aidilfitri this year.
“This well-paved and well-built road network will certainly be a catalyst for the economy of the surrounding residents and it can connect Ranau, Kota Kinabalu, Kinabatangan and Pensiangan districts,” he said.
Earlier, Bung visited a Jan. 1 landslide caused by torrential rain at Kg Warisan.
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