Sabah Assembly: Squatter Issue Addressed, Agro Sector Driven By New Programmes

KOTA KINABALU, Dec 17 Bernama) -- The Sabah government is adopting a more comprehensive approach to address squatter issues statewide, including proposing the gazettement of 45 squatter colonies as villages to ensure more orderly and safer settlements.

Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Dr Mohd Arifin Mohd Arif said the initiative is part of a phased strategy that includes gazetting suitable areas, resettlement programmes, construction of low-cost housing and the provision of proper residential lots.

He said the number of squatter colonies in Sabah has declined from 285 in 2023 to 233 currently, representing an 18 per cent reduction.

“The state government, through the Sabah State Squatter Affairs Steering Committee, has outlined several measures to address squatter issues, including gazetting suitable areas as villages and resettling squatters by providing proper lots or housing units,” he said when winding up the debate on the 2026 Supply Bill at the state assembly sitting today.

Mohd Arifin said the ministry received RM257.44 million for 2026, a 4.2 per cent increase compared with RM247.01 million this year, to support initiatives under the Sabah Maju Jaya 2.0 Development Plan.

He said the Sabah Housing and Town Development Board continues to accelerate the development of affordable housing, with two such projects currently under construction in Kepayan Ridge, Kota Kinabalu, and Kimanis, Papar.

In addition, four large-scale affordable housing projects are planned under the 13th Malaysia Plan, involving developments in Sepanggar, Kepayan, Tanjung Aru and Beringgis, Papar, bringing the total to 1,564 units statewide.

Meanwhile, Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industry Minister Datuk Jamawi Jaafar said Sabah is strengthening its agriculture, fisheries and food entrepreneur ecosystem through targeted programmes involving youth, rural communities and downstream industries.

He said key initiatives include the Agriculture Mentor-Mentee Programme, expansion of the Tagal system, the Blue Economy Initiative and the Sabah Kitchen Garden programme, which are aimed at ensuring long-term competitiveness of the agri-food sector.

Jamawi added that RM900,000 has been approved under the Blue Economy Initiative for projects such as artificial reefs, fish aggregating devices for tuna fishermen and the digitalisation of fisheries operations, including the use of GPS buoy systems.

-- BERNAMA