Dr Sim (seated centre) with Len Talif (seated second left), Dr Annuar (seated second right) and others during the meeting.
KUCHING: A total of 5,469 households occupying state land titled land illegally been relocated since the establishment of Sarawak Squatter Management and Solving Committee in 2010, said Dato Sri Dr Sim Kui Hian.
The Local Government and Housing Minister said the figure was from the 9,760 households which had registered themselves through various initiatives provided.
“The government has recently approved to relocate 1,478 households and the remaining 2,813 households are undergoing studies for solutions,” he said in a statement yesterday after chairing a committee meeting on Wednesday.
Dr Sim, who is also chairman of the committee, said the government would continue to look into ways to relocate the rest of the squatters in the state.
According to him, the Housing Development Corporation (HDC) has informed the committee that 935 units of People’s Housing Plan (RPR) and People’s Housing Project (PPR) are still vacant and open for applications.
He said the applications were open to squatters in Kuching, Serian, Sibu, Bintulu and Miri.
Dr Sim disclosed that the issues of encroaching on state land and titled land had also been discussed at the meeting.
He advised the community to always refer to the Land and Survey Department for the status of the land they were occupying.
He added that encroaching on state land is an offence under Section 209 of the Land Code (BAB 81).
Dr Sim also appealed to all relevant parties to work closely in solving squatters and state land encroachment in the state.
“The committee has also agreed to review our strategy so that we can better manage squatter issues in Sarawak,” he said.
Among those present were Assistant Minister of Urban Development and Resources Datu Len Talif Salleh and Assistant Minister of Local Government and Housing Dr Annuar Rapaee.