Size matters to 43 squatter families
Humayun KabirPublished: Jul 6, 2009 9:49 AM | Updated: Jul 6, 2009 10:18 AM
If a former officer of the Sungai Siput land office is to be believed, there is enough land - 44 lots to be precise - to relocate 43 squatter families who have ordered to move out of their village by July 17.
If a former officer of the Sungai Siput land office is to be believed, there is enough land - 44 lots to be precise - to relocate 43 squatter families who have ordered to move out of their village by July 17.
But if the current officer’s claim is correct, only 35 lots are available. This would result in the community being split up over two sites - 20 families in Taman Keladang and the rest in Kampung Perik.
The squatters at ‘Kampung KTM’ have been occupying railway reserve land for the last 30 years, but now have to move out to make way for the double-tracking project.
And they are not waiting for the conundrum to be resolved. They first engaged a private surveyor who “confirmed” that there are indeed 44 lots in Taman Keladang, about 4km from Sungai Siput.
They then lodged a police report yesterday against the land office for the allegedly intimidating content of the eviction notice dated July 3.
It states that the squatters will be fined RM10,000 each and may be sentenced to jail for a year if they do not vacate the site by July 17.
Residents committee chairperson M Muniappan said: “About 50 of us lodged the police report. We also stated that the land office has broken its promise to relocate all of us in Taman Keladang, and that it wants to divide the 43 families between two sites.”
Muniappan said Taman Keladang is a more convenient site than Kampung Perik, which is about 15km from the town.
Those forced to re-settle in Kampung Perik would therefore find it a financial burden to travel to work in Sungai Siput and to send their children to school, he noted.
“The proposed area is swamp land and is located in a flood-prone low-lying area. It will take us at least two years to fill the site and raise to the level of Kampung Perik. We are poor people and do not have the funds to reclaim swamp land,” he said.
Memo to land office
The squatters formed a committee to protect their rights and to negotiate with the state government seven years ago, after hearing that the double-tracking rail project was about to begin.
“Most of the residents are very poor people, who are odd-job workers. We cannot afford to be thrown out of our homes without compensation and an alternative site,” said Muniappan.
He claimed that 15 appeal letters had been submitted over the years to former Menteri Besar Mohd Tajol Rosli (left), asking for alternative land to be provided.
Political parties like DAP and PSM then began applying pressure on the authorities, while Hindraf and MP for Sungai Siput Dr D Jeyakumar also lent support to the squatters.
Bypassing them, the land office sought direct negotiations with the squatters, offering them a relocation transport allowance of RM1,000 and compensation of RM300 per month for two years.
However, the squatters were largely cool to the offer - only a few accepted it and moved out.
PSM Youth co-ordinator R Karthiees is now assisting the community to prepare a memorandum that will be presented to the land office tomorrow.
In it, they will demand a retraction of the eviction notice, and a dialogue session to resolve issues related to relocation.
They will also refuse relocation to the site in Kampung Perik, and insist that the whole community be resettled in Taman Keladang. Pending a solution, they will not move out of their village.
But if the current officer’s claim is correct, only 35 lots are available. This would result in the community being split up over two sites - 20 families in Taman Keladang and the rest in Kampung Perik.
The squatters at ‘Kampung KTM’ have been occupying railway reserve land for the last 30 years, but now have to move out to make way for the double-tracking project.And they are not waiting for the conundrum to be resolved. They first engaged a private surveyor who “confirmed” that there are indeed 44 lots in Taman Keladang, about 4km from Sungai Siput.
They then lodged a police report yesterday against the land office for the allegedly intimidating content of the eviction notice dated July 3.
It states that the squatters will be fined RM10,000 each and may be sentenced to jail for a year if they do not vacate the site by July 17.Residents committee chairperson M Muniappan said: “About 50 of us lodged the police report. We also stated that the land office has broken its promise to relocate all of us in Taman Keladang, and that it wants to divide the 43 families between two sites.”
Muniappan said Taman Keladang is a more convenient site than Kampung Perik, which is about 15km from the town.
Those forced to re-settle in Kampung Perik would therefore find it a financial burden to travel to work in Sungai Siput and to send their children to school, he noted.
“The proposed area is swamp land and is located in a flood-prone low-lying area. It will take us at least two years to fill the site and raise to the level of Kampung Perik. We are poor people and do not have the funds to reclaim swamp land,” he said.
Memo to land office
The squatters formed a committee to protect their rights and to negotiate with the state government seven years ago, after hearing that the double-tracking rail project was about to begin.
“Most of the residents are very poor people, who are odd-job workers. We cannot afford to be thrown out of our homes without compensation and an alternative site,” said Muniappan.
He claimed that 15 appeal letters had been submitted over the years to former Menteri Besar Mohd Tajol Rosli (left), asking for alternative land to be provided.Political parties like DAP and PSM then began applying pressure on the authorities, while Hindraf and MP for Sungai Siput Dr D Jeyakumar also lent support to the squatters.
Bypassing them, the land office sought direct negotiations with the squatters, offering them a relocation transport allowance of RM1,000 and compensation of RM300 per month for two years.
However, the squatters were largely cool to the offer - only a few accepted it and moved out.PSM Youth co-ordinator R Karthiees is now assisting the community to prepare a memorandum that will be presented to the land office tomorrow.
In it, they will demand a retraction of the eviction notice, and a dialogue session to resolve issues related to relocation.
They will also refuse relocation to the site in Kampung Perik, and insist that the whole community be resettled in Taman Keladang. Pending a solution, they will not move out of their village.
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