KOTA KINABALU: Districts in Sabah with a high concentration of squatter colonies have been given until the end of 2025 to significantly reduce the number.

       Deputy Chief Minister II Datuk Seri Dr Joachim Gunsalam said each local authority in the relevant districts must have a solid plan to achieve this.

       Gunsalam, who is also Sabah Local Government and Housing Minister, said the main committee addressing the squatter issue had identified 285 squatter colonies in the state.

       "These colonies have 33,566 houses with a total of 130,397 squatters," he said during the Excellence in Service Award (APC) 2023 and Local Government and Housing Minister's Address ceremonies here on Friday (March 8).

       He said only three Sabah districts, namely Ranau, Kota Belud and Tuaran, did not have any squatter colonies.

       "I want to see more districts or local authorities that have a zero-squatter presence.

       "The districts that have many such squatter areas must achieve a noticeable reduction (of such colonies) by the end of next year," Gunsalam said.

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       He also said he had ordered local authorities to prepare a study on the need for housing in their respective areas, which would include identifying lands that are ready to be developed under the People's Housing Programme (PPR).