By Abang Jamallidon bin Abang Ullie

Squatters are a problem in Sarawak. Over the years, similar with other States in the country, the squatter population in Sarawak has increased due to industrialisation and rapid urbanisation in cities and towns.

Squatters are defined as those who have cleared, cultivated, constructed houses and settled on State land, government reserve and land owned by government agencies and statutory bodies.

Record in Land and Survey indicates that Sarawak has at least 9,760 squatter families residing on State land. This figure is excluding those squatting on Government land in rural areas and private land. Squatter communities in Sarawak are scattered in almost every division and given the size of Sarawak that is almost as big as Peninsula Malaysia, it is relatively difficult and almost impossible to monitor and keep track of the squatter distribution in the State.

Various factors could have contributed to the existence of squatters in the urban areas. One main reason is the rural-urban migration that is currently taking place in major cities and towns such as Kuching, Miri, Bintulu and Sibu.

The intensive growth of industries and the boom in major cities and towns offer plenty of job opportunities which attract the rural populace to try out their luck in the urban areas. But when these rural folk moved to the cities, they remain poor and have no choice but to squat on State land. Squatters tend to occupy areas that have some basic amenities and are close to their workplace and so that it would be easier for them to sustain their livelihood. Lack of affordable housing and exorbitant rent for urban dwellings too caused squatter problem to persist.

Squatter’s colonies are often associated with social ills such as drug abuse, theft and gangsterism. These pose a threat to the safety of the squatter communities.

Basic amenities such as water and electricity are not always available in squatter settlements and at times, these squatter communities had to resort to doing illegal connection of electric cables to their houses. If a fire broke out, many would be made homeless as squatter houses are often made from wooden materials and huddled close together.

Squatter communities are also vulnerable to flood problems primarily because of poor drainage system. The densely populated squatter settlements are also not conducive for children to study and live in.

In short, a living condition that is safe, healthy and comfortable is compromised in most of the squatter settlements that do not even have access to basic amenities.

The Government is making concerted efforts to address squatter woes in the country, including coming up with the zero-squatter policy. In Sarawak, the State Government has set a target of achieving zero squatter by 2015, five years ahead of the national target.

Such determination indicates that the government is indeed serious in rooting out squatters and making Sarawak free from squatter settlements. This is crucial to ensure that everyone has an opportunity to live in a conducive environment and not being marginalised from development as the country strives towards a developed status by 2020.

The State Government has taken the initiative to form the State-level Squatter Management Committee (JPPSN) after receiving the green light from the Chief Minister on 16 November 2010. JPPSM is a body, led by the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, tasked to coordinate and implement the vision and mission of managing and resolving squatter issues in Sarawak. One of the main tasks of JPPSN is to work out programmes that can effectively and efficiently put an end to the squatter problems including providing decent houses with basic amenities.

Squatter eradication in the State will be based on five strategic thrusts: Squatters Coordination, Squatters Data Management, Housing Development Programme, Review and Research as well as Enforcement.

Although the existence of squatters is inevitable in many developing countries, the problem can be minimised if not eradicated if all parties concerned extend their full co-operation. It is the hope of the State Government to assist and work together with its Federal counterparts in ensuring that Malaysia becomes squatter-free by the year 2020.

The writer is a Senior Enforcement Officer at Land and Survey Kuching and can be contacted at jamallidon@sarawak.gov.my