Wilfred Yap calls for heavier fines for land encroachment

suppadmin | March 12, 2021

The business community at Batu Tujuh, Kota Sentosa were unhappy with a coffeeshop operator who constructed a cement extension encroaching onto three (3) public car parks to create a bigger space for placing extra tables and chairs for his coffeeshop.

SUPP Public Complaints Bureau Chief Wilfred Yap said this deprived customers frequenting the shops there of the usage of three (3) carparks when the number of carparks was already not enough during peak hours.

He then requested the enforcement team from MPP to visit the site of the problem together with him to better assess the situation. Upon investigation of the complaint, the enforcement team of MPP issued a notice to the coffeeshop owner giving him fourteen (14) days to demolish the cement extension built by him as the cement extension is a breach of existing use of land and an encroachment/tresspass onto state/council land. Yap suggested that the Sarawak Government consider tightening existing legislation by imposing a hefty fine for contractors who carry out construction works of illegal structures or extensions.

The imposition of a hefty fine, Yap added, will serve as a deterrent for contractors who carry out construction works of illegal structures or extensions.