Tg Tokong folk protest UDA over 'squatter' slur
About 30 residents from the Tanjong Tokong village affected by a massive development project held a protest today at the Urban Development Authority (UDA) office in Bertam.
About 30 residents from the Tanjong Tokong village affected by a massive development project held a protest today at the Urban Development Authority (UDA) office in Bertam.
The group, led by Voice of Kg Tanjung Tokong Residents chief Mohd Musannif Zainal Abidin, arrived in a yellow school bus about 10.30am.
The group sought to hand over a memorandum to UDA, demanding a retraction of statements and an apology by its chairperson, Nur Jazlan Mohamed.
However, they failed to hand over the memorandum to UDA Land (North) Sdn Bhd director Kamaruzaman Mohamad.
Although the protestors demanded that at least two representatives should be allowed to hand over the memorandum, only one was allowed into the office.
When their demand was rejected, the protestors were upset and decided not to go in to meet Kamaruzaman.
They flung the memorandum through the gate, telling the UDA staff members, “Nah, go read the memorandum!"
'Why are they afraid to meet us?'
Later, Musannif told reporters that the residents were upset that an UDA representative had failed to meet them.
“They took our land and yet refuse to meet us. Why do they treat us like this? If they are afraid to meet us here on their own turf, will they meet us in our kampong?” he asked.
“They are really rude and arrogant. We know how to teach them (a lesson) when they come to our area. Why are they afraid to meet us... there are more policemen here than protestors."
Mussanif said the group was not there to create chaos but to express sadness and disappointment over Nur Jazlan's remark.
“Up till now there has been no response from him,” he said.
On the group’s next course of action, Musannif said he would discuss the matter first.
The residents carried banners, and were watched closely by about 30 policemen, who had arrived earlier with sirens blaring.
There were shouts of “Penipu” and “Biadap” directed at Nur Jazlan (left) and UDA Holdings Bhd, the main developer of the Tanjung Tokong land.
At least two police reports have been filed against Nur Jazlan for his media statements on Jan 17 and 18, in which he had described the residents as “squatters living on illegal land”.
The first report was lodged by hotel worker Abdul Wahab Sini Ibramsah, 43, at the Tanjong Tokong police station at 6.52pm last Friday.
This followed a protest after Friday prayers that day when about 80 residents expressed disappointment with the statements by Nur Jazlan, also the MP for Pulai.
Musannif issued a three-day ultimatum for a public apology and a retraction of the statements.
Malaysiakini was unable to contact Nur Jazlan for his comments, as he refused to meet the press.
