KUCHING: Land and Survey Department census shows there are 2,507 household heads in squatter areas on government land in Piasau, Pujut and Senadin constituencies.
Assistant Housing Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah told the august house yesterday in response to Pujut assemblyman Fong Pau Teck’s question on the status of squatters in Miri which totaled about 4,000.
“The record given was based on a comprehensive survey carried out on those squatting on government land only and excluding those on private land,” Karim pointed out.
On plans and measures taken to tackle squatter issues in the state, Karim said the government had implemented various schemes and initiatives in an effort to achieve zero squatter status by 2020.
“First, a management and settlement committee was set up under the state Housing Ministry and Land and Survey Department to address squatter issues and the committee meets twice a year,” he said.
Karim added that the government had also implemented the state squatter action plan approved in 2010 which was monitored by the committee.
“This plan comprised strategic courses covering aspects of local planning, enforcement and development of housing in order to address squatter issues in a comprehensive and integrated manner.
“Thirdly, Land and Survey Department also carried out survey to identify areas with squatters sitting on government land to allow better planning to address this problem,” he explained.
Karim emphasised that the authorities would continue to resettle squatters on government land.
“We also issue land titles to those who fulfill the criteria as part of the in-situ resettlement for new resettlement and village expansion schemes which have been done in many areas in the state.”
The Housing Ministry would request the federal government for more Program Perumahan Rakyat (PPR) projects for the state for rental or ownership purposes in order to cater to the needs of squatter groups.
“A total of 2,000 PPR units have been built and available for rental at a very low price in Sibu, Bintulu and Kuching since two years ago,” he said.
Karim concluded that the government through National Housing Commission and HDC had also implemented Rumah Mesra Rakyat (RMR) programme in village schemes to resettle squatters.
Meanwhile, Assistant Resource Planning Minister Datuk Mohd Naroden Majais highlighted that the squatters in village areas in Lusut, Lambir involved a huge area and a large number of squatters.
“The last State Planning Council meeting chaired by Chief Minister Tan Sri Datuk Amar Adenan Satem in April 2014 has made a decision to approach the matter through in-situ resettlement,” he said.
Naroden was responding to Lambir assemblyman Ripin Lamat’s concerns on the squatter problems involving five villages in Lusut.
“The Land and Survey Department have been directed to do a comprehensive analysis on the squatters and to come up with an organisational plan for that matter,” he added.
Naroden said that there were 681 heads of squatter household according to a census survey done in 2010 but the figure had increased to nearly 1,400.
“The government has yet to take action on them because we are still waiting for the Land and Survey Department to come up with the organisational plan,” he elaborated.
“However, we encourage squatters to move to low-cost housing areas or affordable housing developed by the government,” he said.
On alternative plans to intervene and tackle squatter issues in the state, Naroden supported the suggestions by Ripin that the government make early preparation.
“Rural Growth Centre (RGC) is the best example that has been implemented in several towns in the state where the younger generations are also encouraged to apply as well as those from outskirts of town,” he said.
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