Kota Kinabalu: Concerns are growing over homeless individuals and those with mental health issues roaming Sandakan town, with questions raised in the Sabah Legislative Assembly about safety, hygiene and public comfort.
Tanjong Papat Assemblyman Alex Thien said the situation is increasingly affecting both the image of the town and daily life, especially for traders operating in the area.
He pointed to incidents in public spaces, including eateries, where some individuals have behaved in ways that made customers uneasy.
“There are cases where they enter eateries without proper clothing, which creates discomfort and is not a healthy situation for customers.
“I would like to ask the ministry whether there are plans to take appropriate action and to place them in shelters or designated locations so that their welfare is protected while public order is maintained,” he said.
Thien said small traders at the Sandakan Central Market are also dealing with rising security concerns, with theft and break-ins causing significant losses.
He also highlighted a recent case involving a break-in at the MyKiosk Lorong Kreatif in Sandakan town, calling for better protection such as stronger fencing, CCTV and more frequent patrols.
Safety risks are not limited to crime. Thien also brought up a fatal landslide in Sandakan in recent months, warning that unstable slopes around the town remain a serious threat.
“We cannot wait until another tragedy occurs before action is taken,” he said, urging authorities to move quickly on engineering assessments and mitigation measures in high-risk areas.
He also drew attention to the growing number of dilapidated and abandoned buildings in the town centre, describing them as both dangerous and damaging to Sandakan’s image.
Among the issues highlighted were ageing structures, poorly maintained drainage and sewage systems, overgrown vegetation and damaged drain covers.
At the same time, residents in several areas are dealing with deteriorating infrastructure, including damaged bridges in Kampung Melayu Bumiputera, Kampung Berhala Darat and Pulau Berhala.
“These bridges are daily access routes for residents to work, school and basic facilities. If not addressed immediately, they pose serious safety risks,” he said.
Thien also raised concerns about fire risks in water villages, pointing to the recent blaze in Kampung Bahagia that destroyed about 90% of the settlement.
He said such incidents are not uncommon in Sabah, given the close proximity of houses, use of flammable materials, and limited access for fire engines, and called for preventive measures such as fire hydrants, emergency water storage, and community fire response teams.
At the temporary relief centre at Sim Sim Futsal, which is housing more than 500 fire victims, he said sanitation remains a concern.
“We do not want victims who have already lost their homes to face health risks due to poor management at the evacuation centre,” he said.
