Kota Kinabalu: Tied to the longstanding issue of illegal immigrants in Sabah is that of squatter settlements that the majority of them reside in.
Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said efforts would continue involving Esscom, Immigration, army and police to demolish squatter settlements that posed a risk to State security, especially those at sea that could serve as staging posts for cross border criminals.
However, these inhabitants often encroach other areas in return, in an endless cat-and-mouse game with the authorities.
The squatter settlements are hotbeds of crime including drugs and smuggling, water and electricity theft that robs the utility companies of millions yearly, health hazards and lately have served as hideouts of subversive elements linked to terror groups like the Philippines-based Abu Sayyaf.
SPONSORED CONTENT Daily Express members: Enjoy 1 for 1 signature cocktails and more at Hyatt Centric Kota Kinabalu Kota Kinabalu: DAILY EXPRESS is partnering with Hyatt Centric Kota Kinabalu to offer an exclusive deal for our members. Read more “We can capture the PTIs (illegals) everyday via the operations being conducted and demolish their slums. But the issue is where to keep them,” said the Chief Minister in a wide ranging interview of the kind of issues he has been dealing with in his third year in office.
“When we keep them in the detention centres, we will be spending millions of Ringgit per month for their meals until deportation.
“There are many problems…but no matter what we continue with our policy that the slums have to be demolished, including those occupied by locals like on Pulau Gaya.”
Hajiji said he discussed with several developers about moving the Pulau Gaya squatters to a piece of government land in Sepanggar, near the city.
He told one developer wanting to build a resort in Pulau Gaya that it (resort) could be allowed on condition it build houses in Sepanggar that will be given to them (Pulau Gaya squatters).
“The developer will be required to build houses on that land and they can collect the monthly rent from the occupants.
“This could help the local squatters among them to have houses once their squatter homes are bulldozed,” he said.
The Berjaya Group has responded positively to the plan where owner Tan Sri Vincent Tan was to build 2,000 flats in Sepanggar for the local Gaya squatters.
“The locals (squatters) in Gaya could move to Sepanggar because many of them work in Kota Kinabalu City.
“Just pay about RM150 per month to the developer who will collect the monthly rental. The most important thing is we have a plan to relocate the locals from being squatters to owning houses in Sepanggar.”
“This is our plan and initiative to developers who wish to build resorts on the island,” he said.
He said because of Pulau Gaya’s historical importance, the State government established a Gaya Island Development Authority to oversee development being carried out there.
“But any development must not damage the natural surroundings including the greenery and trees,” he said.
Esscom (Sabah Security Command) put the number of squatter settlements statewide at a whopping 543 – making Sabah perhaps the state with the record number of illegals as well as illegal settlements.
The inhabitants number upwards of 140,000 including in Labuan comprising Filipinos, Indonesians, some from South Asia, as well as locals.
Lahad Datu tops the list with 130 squatter settlements, followed by Beluran (96), Keningau (48), Papar (39) Kota Kinabalu (37), Tuaran (32), Sandakan (30), Penampang (17), Kota Belud and Semporna (14), Kudat (13), Kinabatangan (12), Tawau (11), Ranau and Sipitang (10), Kunak and Tenom (7), Labuan (6), Kota Marudu (6) and Beaufort (4).
This does not include various housing and private lands rented out to illegals for fast money.
Tan Sri Chong Kah Kiat as Chief Minister under the rotation system enlisted the help of police and army to demolish thousands of squatters throughout the state and deporting them.
This led to a marked decline in crime in the State, but it is believed that many of them had slipped back into the state since.
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