The member for Bintulu Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing said their act encouraged the sprouting of squatter colonies, which the government was trying to wipe out.

“I know who these people are, and I urge them to stop the act,” he said when speaking at a media conference here.

Advising the people in his area not to resort to squatting, he also warned those who were already squatting on government land not to expand their colony or build new houses.

“We have all the records with the Bintulu Development Authority (BDA). We know who the squatters.
“Any new people coming to squat will have their house demolished,” he warned.

On the request by residents at the squatter colony at Km 2 here that Tiong visited them, he said: “I don’t have to visit the squatter area because I know the problem there very well.”

“It’s unfortunate that they’re squatting on a private land,” he said.

Squatters in the colony have been given the notice to vacate the area by next month.

“I advise those who’re squatting on the private land to vacate. There’s no other solution,” Tiong, who is Justice of the Peace, said.

He said he was not in a position to provide land for them to build houses.

Meanwhile, it is learnt that the Km 2 squatter colony has 83 houses, and the houses have been there since more than 10 years ago.

On the claim by the Km 2 squatters that they could not afford to rent or own a house because they do not have a steady income, he said: “It’s simple. They should have come here alone and get a stable job first before bringing their family.”

He suggested that they discuss their problem with their employer.

“Don’t simply bring your family and later squat on private or government land. This will only bring problems to your family,”he said.