KOTA KINABALU, July 30 (Bernama) -- Over 1,500 squatter homes built on government land have been demolished in operations conducted across the state, according to Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Jauteh Dikun.
He said that the demolition operations were ongoing and would continue in the future.
“We can say that every district has had squatter homes demolished, either in large numbers or individually. So far, we have been carrying out regular demolition operations, but if we find occupants without documentation, we will arrest them,” he said.
Jauteh told reporters this after attending the launch of the Op Daulat Tanduo documentation book ‘General Operations Force, Sabah Brigade: Eliminating Terrorists and The Fifth Column in Kampung Tanduo’, which was officiated by Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor today.
According to Jauteh, the squatter settlement demolition operations had six main goals, including ensuring Sabah’s safety and keeping the regions from becoming havens for illegal activities.
“Additionally, we aim to free government land from illegal settlements, combat crime in these areas and lower crime rates, whether drug- or property-related,” he said.
He added that the demolition operations are also carried out to help the government address issues such as electricity and water theft and waste pollution in these settlements.
-- BERNAMA
