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SIBU, July 6: The impact of ural-urban migration and the increasing number of squatters in Sibu need to be looked into seriously, says Katibas assemblyman Lidam Assan.
“According to the last survey conducted in Sibu during the Covid-19 pandemic, around 10,000 squatters has been recorded in the town and most of them are Sarawakians from nearby area such as Song, Kapit and Tanjung Manis,” he revealed at the Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) Ngiling Bidai celebration last night.
Lidam said the issue of illegal squatters in Sibu town is not a new one, as Sibu is seen as a strategic transit point, especially by those from rural areas such as Song.
He called on SMC to tackle this issue promptly and efficiently.
“Whoever they are, they are Sarawakians who settle here and find Sibu to have a bigger future (for them). Therefore, I ask the council to look into the rural-urban migration issue here, probably look into a bigger picture,” he added.
He also urged the council to increase its effort to develop a Greater Sibu especially as Indonesia is moving its administrative capital from Jakarta to East Kalimantan.
“I also hope the community especially the Iban community wil work together with the councils as well as the government so that we the Iban can progress together with the development here,” he said.
Also present were Bukit Assek assemblyman Joseph Chieng Jin Ek, SMC Chairman Clarence Ting Ing Horh, SMC Deputy Chairman Mohammed Abdullah Izkandar Roseley, SMC Secretary Yong Ing Chu, Sibu Deputy Resident Christopher Ranggau Unting, Organising Chairman Councillor Christopher Kelebit Ansa and others. — DayakDaily
