KOTA KINABALU: Kota Kinabalu City Hall (DBKK) will begin enforcement operations to clear and demolish illegal and unsafe houses in the Sembulan water village here this month.
The exercise also involves premises with expired leases, it added.
In a statement on its Facebook page Tuesday (Jan 6), DBKK said the action follows inspections that found some of the houses were unapproved and unsafe.
It is also being carried out out of concern over unsanitary conditions in the area, DBKK said, as it has been identified as a dengue outbreak hotspot.
According to the statement, a technical survey conducted from Dec 8 to 12 found both temporary and permanent structures that had failed to meet safety, planning and hygiene standards.
"Such conditions not only tarnish the city’s image but also heighten the risk of fire and environmental pollution, and obstruct legitimate development planning," it said.
A census of the area found a total of 159 heads of household were non-citizens, and most of them did not have valid travel documents.
DBKK said the action was part of the Sembulan Renewal Scheme, which aims to modernise the area and make it a cleaner, safer, better-organised urban environment.
It said notices of eviction and demolition were issued between Dec 18 and 22, giving affected parties enough time for voluntary evacuation or to demolish the houses on their own.
Thereafter, DBKK said, it would strictly enforce the eviction notices with errant residents facing fines, prosecution, seizure and immediate demolition of the structures without notice.
The operation will involve multiple agencies, including police, Fire and Rescue Department, the Immigration Department, the National Security Council, and the Sabah Internal Affairs and Research Office, to ensure public safety and order.
DBKK urged all parties to cooperate fully to ensure the smooth implementation of the enforcement exercise. For inquiries, the public may contact the DBKK Enforcement Department at 088-521800.
