Contrary to media reports stating otherwise, the NGO has not yet set up a blockade to bar authorities from entering the village, its founder, Mukmin Nantang, told FMT.

He said a team of activists from the NGO is now camping out at the village.

“We have not yet set up a blockade. We have come to spend the night here. We will wait for tomorrow (in case the authorities come to demolish the village),” he said.

Mukmin also said in an Instagram post that Borneo Komrad will defend the village together with a Universiti Malaysia Sabah students’ group.

In recent days, settlements housing stateless and undocumented people have been torn down and burnt.

On Monday, Borneo Komrad accused local authorities, including the police and the Kota Kinabalu City Hall, of being complicit in the demolition and burning of Kampung Kalansanan, Inanam.

Last week, the Bajau Laut community in Semporna was also evicted and saw its stilt homes torn down and burnt by unidentified enforcement officials.

Fellow human rights group Pusat Komas has urged the local authorities to halt further evictions and engage in dialogue with the community to find humane and just solutions.

FMT has reached out to the Sabah chief minister’s office and Kota Kinabalu City Hall for comment.