Liew to meet Mayor over eviction of 100 squatters
Published on: Friday, August 28, 2015
Kota Kinabalu: Api Api Assemblywoman Christina Liew said she will meet with Mayor Datuk Abidin Madingkir next week to seek a concrete solution to the plight of some 100 squatters from 35 families occupying State land known as Bukit Punai 1 and Bukit Punai 2 who are on the verge of being driven out.The area in question is atop a hill behind the St Francis Convent Secondary School along Jalan Kebajikan, here. She gave the assurance during a site visit, Thursday, when they brought eviction notices from Kota Kinabalu City Hall (DBKK) and the Kota Kinabalu Land Office, dated August 20, 2015, to her attention.
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Liew, who is Sabah PKR Deputy Chief, learned that the people had been staying at Bukit Punai for over 30 years. Previously, they had actually tried to apply to the Land Office for the land titles but all efforts failed."I appeal to the Mayor to defer the demolition of their ramshackle homes on humanitarian grounds until they are given low-cost units in Kinarut or Putatan. These are our very own people and their fate is in a limbo. "Our government emphasises building more affordable homes or low-cost houses to accommodate poor people like them. Now is the time to walk the talk.
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"In this respect, I urge the Minister of Local Government and Housing, Datuk Hajiji, to immediately look into the need to allocate alternative housing for these local squatters," she said.According to Pitah bin Batingal, the spokesperson for affected Bukit Punai residents, the first eviction notice was served to them sometime in 2005, followed by the second one in 2011.
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"This time around, Bukit Punai 1 residents were given 30 days from the date (August 20) of the issuance of notice, and those at Bukit Punai 2 were notified to move out within seven days from the date of notice issued (August 20). In the past, we would appeal to the authorities each time to allow us to stay on until the Government really needs to utilise the land for other purposes."Kami orang miskin (We are poor people). We are natives from the interior, and the majority are Rungus and KadazanDusun from Kudat, Matunggong, Kota Marudu, Kota Belud, Ranau, Tambunan and Keningau. We moved here to look for jobs.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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