KOTA KINABALU: Three squatter houses in a water village in Sembulan Tengah were demolished yesterday due to safety concerns and expired land leases.
The operation, led by the Kota Kinabalu City Hall (DBKK), also involved other agencies, including the police, Immigration Department, Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd, and the Sabah State Water Department.
The tenants of the squatter homes were notified of the 9am operation in advance.
In a statement, DBKK said inspections of the homes revealed they were unsafe.
"These houses posed significant risks to the occupants," DBKK said.
"The land leases for these properties had also expired, and some were rented to foreign nationals," it said, adding that KK Mayor Datuk Seri Sabin Samitah was also present during the operation.