How serious are the authorities in granting plantation workers and other low-income earners their rights to proper housing and housing amenities?

These were among the questions asked during a People's Forum held yesterday in conjunction with World Habitat Day 2003 which focuses on housing problems for the poor.

JERIT!, a Network of Oppressed Peoples made up of more than eight sectors' representing various marginalised groups throughout Malaysia organised the forum in collaboration with another non-governmental organisation Coalition of Urban and Housing Settlers.

JERIT! coordinator Mohana Rani in her presentation revealed that 80 percent of the low-cost housing in Penang, Ipoh, Selangor and Johor measured about 500 square feet or smaller

This was more than seven times smaller than the 3,600 square feet area per standard lot allotted by the Land Office in their Planned Villages Programme (Rancangan Kampungan Tersusun), she said.

Rundown facilities

In most of the places, the front door is only a few steps away from the back door of the house, and there are usually only one or two small bedrooms, she said as she revealed the results of a survey conducted by the organisers during the months from June to Sept.

The cramped space was in addition to problems of run-down facilities and conditions, such as broken plumbing, lighting in need of repair, lack of security, dirty and dangerous sewerage problems, among others, according to Rani.

"Are these conditions appropriate for any family to live in?" she asked.

"Moreover, how many low-income earners can afford to buy these units which now cost about RM 42,000?" she added.

These revelations stood in contrast with the profits boasted by several plantation companies as reported in New Straits Times during February and March this year.

Plantation giants Golden Hope and PPB Oil Palms earned RM118 million and RM123.6 million, respectively, in profits by the end of December last year. Guthrie earned a whopping RM3.1 billion.

The three-hour forum, held in the New Era College at Kajang near Kuala Lumpur was a variety event made up of speeches, songs, and drama. About 300 people were present. They came from as far as Johor, Perak, and Penang to represent their respective sectors and areas of ''habitat.''

Earlier JERIT coordinator Kohila spoke of the government's failure to seriously address the problem of housing for the poor.

"The government's negligence in the issue of housing for the poor is reflected in their policy that is unjust, insufficient in providing for the poor masses, and doesn't provided for their basic necessities."

"The time has come for all groups oppressed to take up their mutual responsibility and (together) struggle for each others'' right to housing!"

What obstacles?

Through the legal lens, another JERIT coordinator A Sivarajan asked what obstacles stood in the way of the government to provide adequate housing and housing amenities, considering the promises that had been made to the international community in regards to the provision of housing for the country's poor.

Both Article 11 (1) of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights as well as Article 25 of the United Declaration of Human Rights stated governments' responsibilities to provide housing that was adequate for individuals and their families to live in.

The Malaysian government had signed both treaties, in addition to another treaty in Istanbul, Turkey in 1992 (HABITAT 1992).

However, the conditions of these low-cost houses leaves many wondering if it's housing for people that the government is trying to achieve, or building coups for birds to live in, said Sivarajan.

Eleven resolutions were adopted at the forum, including calls to alter plans to build more overcrowded, unhealthy low-cost flats, more reasonable housing prices and house loans, consultation with the poor on development plans, and revision of laws concerning housing, such as the National Land Code (1965), Land Acquisition Act (1961), Regulation Act (1969), and Court Order 89.