KOTA KINABALU: Squatter colonies could turn into dens for outside elements that might pose security threats, says a Sabah district police chief.
With this concern in mind, the authorities demolished a total of 160 illegal houses built on state land in northern Pitas recently.
These 160 squatter houses built on forestry reserve land at Kampung Agas Tiga Tarok were previously used by workers at a silica mining project in the area.
Undocumented migrants and locals alike have stayed there, according to Kota Marudu OCPD Supt Zairolnizal Ishak.
“This demolition was to prevent the area from turning into another squatter colony,” he said when contacted on Friday (July 5), adding that it was also to curb security threats from outside.
He said a total of 12 agencies including marine police, Immigration officials, Lands and Surveys Department personnel and forestry officials were involved in the operation.
Supt Zairolnizal said the demolition was carried out over seven hours without any incidents or arrests.
He said two notices were issued, one on May 8 and another on June 28, before the operation.
