Two menteris besar, three federal ministers, a judge, a state assemblyperson, two state exco members, a district officer, a special officer to the MB, a state legal advisor, tens of civil servants and several rich and influential developers.

These are the actors involved in the continuing saga featuring the remaining 81 families in Kampung Sungai Nipah in Shah Alam who, after eight years, are still waiting for the promised low-cost houses.

The families, who are urban settlers since the 1950s, decry the system that has rendered them victims of corruption, red-tape, abuse of power, fraud, favouritism, political interference and breach of promise.

The state offered them low-cost houses in 1996, but the government failed to deliver on its promises.

Chronology begins

This is their story, as recorded in a chronology combining both factual and personal experiences.

1964 MCA's Michael Chen, then with the Alliance, promised them housing complete with titles and public infrastructure.

1977 Bukit Raja state assemblyperson G Vadiveloo reiterated the earlier pledge.

1996 The families received evacuation notices from the land office and offered housing for RM25,000 in Section 20, Shah Alam, which was 1km away from their original location. Each family was promised RM8,000 as compensation.

1997 - A second pledge was made by Subang Jaya state assemblyperson Lee Hwa Beng (photo left). Besides Shah Alam, RM25,000 houses were also offered in USJ, about 6km from their original place. RM5,500 was to be deducted from the RM8,000 compensation for those moving to longhouses. Only part of the settlers got low-cost houses.

1998 Lee and the developer offered the remaining families RM42,000 units in Bukit Subang, about 13km from their original place. Those moving to longhouses would lose RM6,500 from the RM9,000 compensation. The families rejected the offer due to the distance, high price-tag, bad location and lack of infrastructure.

Beginning early 1999 onwards, the matter escalated into a legal battle revolving around allegations of fraud and abuse of power, particularly the close link between the then MB's family and the developer.

Judges changed. Then, the authorities were preparing to demolish the houses, although the court had directed the families to file for appeal. Even MIC president S Samy Vellu had given his assurance that their houses would be spared.

But six months later, all 81 families lost their homes. Police arrested 55 people. The families claimed that thugs hired by the developer thwarted attempts to rebuild their houses by breaking and burning them. Some of the settlers were also injured in the skirmishes.

Memos to MB, minister

In August 1999, the settlers sent a memorandum to the Selangor MB asking for low-cost housing priced at RM25,000 and located nearby. They were greeted by silence.

Two months later, they sent another memorandum to Housing and Local Government Minister Dr Ting Chew Peh asking for houses. They were told that it was state business, not federal.

In June 2000, the families followed up with another memorandum to Ting's successor, Ong Ka Ting. He assured them of a meeting with Lee to arrange for housing.

At a meeting the following month, Lee offered the families RM42,000 units in the still-to-be-completed 18-storey project in Subang Permai, about 8km from their original place. They rejected it on grounds that it was too far, too expensive and lacking basic amenities.

In September, they met newly-appointed MB, Dr Mohd Khir Toyo, who pushed their case to a senior officer.

That same year, the families had asked for units at a low-cost project in USJ 16 that was just completed, citing proper facilities and reasonable distance.

The families were told that the units were already reserved for people being relocated from Batu Tiga.

But the families noted that the units had later been sold to wealthy people with political connections.

In 2001, they complained to Mohd Khir about the bad treatment they have been receiving fro the state government and of being kicked about all the time.

In 2002, the families persisted in asking the MB and the local elected representative for housing, resulting in a RM42,000 offer for units in Putra Heights, Bukit Lancong, about 15km. They turned it down for obvious reasons.

Exacting revenge

At a meeting between settlers representatives and Selangor officials in September, the families were offered a loan of RM1 to buy RM42,000 units in Sungai Nipah. Another offer was made for units in nearby Ladang Ebor for RM35,000.

The offers were accepted.

But their wait was far from over. The units in Sungai Nipah were all sold out, but not to the families.

Instead, they were told that Lee instructed the developers not to sell them the units to exact revenge over the previous complaint by their lawyer to the MCA complaints bureau regarding his misconduct.

In May 2003, after numerous reminders via letters and telephone calls, the families were asked to apply for housing. A total of 71 applications forms, costing RM2 each, were submitted.

Two months later, the families sent a hard-hitting letter demanding why the matter remained unresolved.

In November, the developer informed them that construction of the low-cost housing project in Ladang Ebor would only start after houses in another housing project in Bukit Lancung are sold.

This is only one case of the poor trying to get their basic right to proper, affordable housing.