KOTA KINABALU: After over a year of issuing warnings and eviction notices to squatters, authorities proceeded to demolish 80 squatter homes here.
Three Filipinas were also nabbed in the five-hour multi-agency operation which started at 10am on Monday (July 15).
The trio who will be referred to the Immigration Department for further action.
Kota Kinabalu OCPD Asst Comm Kasim Muda said police together with teams from the General Operations Force (GOF), Rela, National Registration Department, Civil Defence Force, Kota Kinabalu City Hall (DBKK) and Chief Minister's Department conducted the raid.
"There were also officials from the Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd (SESB), Water Department, Land and Surveys Department and Welfare Department," he said in a statement on Tuesday (July 16).
He said squatters were issued eviction notices for months, with some even up to two years.
ACP Kasim explained that the squatter colony was built on state land and the demolition operation was conducted based on security reasons.
"We will continue such raids and operations to curb the presence of illegal immigrants, crime, drugs and social ills in and around Kota Kinabalu," he said.
Some houses had been abandoned but some were still occupied during the operation.
Those still in the houses followed instructions from policemen and there were no incidents reported.
