Of legal and safety concern: Enforcement officers demolishing the illegal structures outside of the Kampung Muslim Filipino refugee settlement in Labuan. — Bernama
LABUAN: Local authorities have undertaken a comprehensive demolition exercise to remove illegal structures outside of the Kampung Muslim Filipino refugee settlement.
Yesterday’s integrated operation, led by Labuan’s Land and Mines Department, was carried out to address concerns regarding the safety, hygiene, power theft and legality of these structures.
Department director Abdul Basit Abdul Latif said 34 illegal premises, occupied by some 300 individuals, were demolished with the cooperation of police and the Labuan Corporation (LC), Bernama reported.
“Local government officials collaborated with law enforcement agencies and residents in the settlement scheme to carefully plan and execute the demolition exercise.
“The operation was carried out with the utmost sensitivity to the plight of the residents, ensuring that their rights and dignity were upheld throughout the process,” he said.
Abdul Basit said the illegal structures were constructed on government land, constituting an encroachment.
“We issued a notice to vacate the area in December 2022, but it appears they ignored the notice ... this disregard prompted us to proceed with today’s demolition,” he said.
He added that the demolition served as a reminder to the delicate balance between addressing humanitarian concerns and upholding legal and safety standards.
“The upcoming phase of the demolition exercise will take place in Kg Saguking Gersik, where structures have been illegally erected in specific parts of the area owned by Majlis Ugama Islam Sabah (MUIS),” he said.
Labuan National Security Council director Mohd Hafiez Mohd Daud said the temporary refugee settlement, located in Kampung Muslim, had been home to displaced individuals and families fleeing conflict and hardship in neighbouring regions.
