20 squatter houses demolished in Sandakan

By Olivia Miwil

SANDAKAN: The District Municipal council have demolished 20 squatter homes at Taman Kenari, Batu 7 here.

The action was taken after a fireman was electrocuted by an illegal power connection on Monday.

During the operation on Wednesday, assistant senior enforcement officer Sairin Abdul Rahman said the demolished houses belonged to illegal immigrants.

“Before dawn, Eastern Sabah Security Command officers had evacuated the occupants in an operation.

“On the same day, at about 2pm, our council led by enforcement officer Irman Tajudin Edy carried out the demolition exercise,” he said, adding police and utility company officers were also involved in the operation.

Fire and Rescue Department personnel Apolos Jeremos , 25,  was killed after he came into contact with damaged power cables while putting out a bushfire near the colony. He leaves a wife who is five-months pregnant with their first child.

Two other firemen also sustained minor injuries.

Meanwhile, Kota Kinabalu City Hall mayor Datuk Abidin Madingkir said authorities would look into the squatter colonies issue to prevent similar incidents from happening  in the state capital.

“We are implementing containment policies that prevent drastic increase of  squatter areas.

“As for now, the numbers are still under control as we have strict enforcement to address the issue,” he said after officiating a restaurant here yesterday.

There are 44 colonies with 25, 687 dwelling in 5,095 squatter houses in Kota Kinabalu. 


Comments