Govt sympathizes with squatters — Mayor
KOTA KINABALU: Housing has become an issue with the city’s developments, said Mayor Datuk Yeo Boon Hai.
He said there were squatter colonies built on government lands despite not being permitted to do so.
“However, the government sympathizes with the people and thus has given them a chance to stay there as long as the land is not in use. This is called containment policy where a group of squatters build houses on government land,” he said.
Yeo also said the government only allows temporary usage of the land with no additional houses permitted to be built under the policy.
With efforts to enable home ownership initiated by Koperasi Pembangunan Perumahan Sabah Berhad (KPPSB), he hoped that squatters who are currently residing on government land could eventually migrate to the housing built by the cooperative.
He said this when officiating at the first general meeting of KPPSB at Dewan SESB, Karamunsing here yesterday.
KPPSB, led by its president, Dato’ Sri Marajoh Hj Unding, strives to provide homes to its members and the people, especially Sabahans, at a lower cost than the market price.
In his speech, Yeo advised KPPSB to ensure sound administration and financial management as both were keys to the success of an agency, company and cooperative.