Kota Kinabalu: Police denied allegations that the house of a widow linked to a national hero in Bugaya Island, Semporna was demolished by the authorities.
Her husband was a policeman who died in the 2013 Kampung Tanduo intrusion in Lahad Datu.
AdvertisementSabah Police Commissioner Datuk Jauteh Dikun said the demolished house was not owned by Sitti Bandorah Mahalil, the widow of the late Sergeant Abd Azis Sarikon.
“It was an empty house previously occupied by illegals. This issue went viral and investigations show that the claims are untrue.
SPONSORED CONTENT Shell Sabah Deepwater Production Manager Earns Unsung Hero Award Daily Express had the opportunity to interview Musti whose story reflects the power of determination and resilience. Read more “The widow does not live in the house (linked to her). The house, built in the 1980s, belongs to her father, and is occupied by her sibling and their children.
“Sitti lives on the mainland and owns several homes,” Jauteh said at the state police contingent headquarters.
Advertisement (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});He said no threats were made against Sitti or her family.
Sitti, in a teary-eyed video on Facebook, claimed police were demolishing her house despite having lost her husband.
Advertisement (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});Prior to the operation in Kampung Bugaya, Sabah Parks had issued notices, and no houses belonging to residents were demolished.
As part of the operation, 3,257 illegally constructed houses were demolished.
Jauteh said certain groups had exploited the issue to undermine police operations targeting illegal squatter colonies and undocumented migrants.
He added that a senior police officer had met Sitti’s family to clarify the situation, revealing a misunderstanding during the operation.