KOTA KINABALU: About 216 squatter houses in Kampung Siminul, Semporna will be demolished by the authorities for safety reasons.
Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) director Datuk Mohammad Mentek said the decision was taken after three days of census.
“There are 2,356 houses in nine squatter settlements in the village.
“At the end of the census process, we have identified 1,371 houses with Malaysian occupants while 815 houses are occupied by foreigners.
“From the 815 houses, we have also identified that 46 of those occupants do not hold or possess any valid documents to live in the country,” he said when met at his Hari Raya open house at Kingfisher Park, here yesterday.
Also present at the event were former head of state Tun Sakaran Dandai and his wife Toh Puan Siti Rukaiyah, Lahad Datu assemblyman Datuk Yusof Apdal and Sabah Assistant Finance Minister Datuk Ramlee Marhaban.
Meanwhile, Mohammad said most of the foreigners occupying Kg Siminul hold various documents such as IMM13 and temporary replacement certificates.
“Notice of demolition will be handed to the occupants as soon as possible as we do not want unlawful tenants occupying the area as well as for security purposes.
“Legal action will also be taken against those without documents including sending them back to their country of origin,” he said.
Mohammad added that the census process would continue at two other districts under Esscom, namely Sandakan and Lahad Datu.
“Based on initial observations, we have also identified 131 villagers in Eastern Sabah Security Zone (Esszone) areas involving 26,000 homes with a population of about 126,000,” he said.