A highly-publicised land dispute in Sungai Buloh is leaving red faces among Selangor government agencies, Barisan Nasional and national petroleum firm Petronas.

The 0.4ha site, owned by the family of Abdul Rahim Talib, is located along the Sungai Buloh-Kuala Selangor highway.

Petronas, through a dealer, had operated the Paya Jaras petrol station-cum-convenience store here for some 23 years before it was closed. Over this period, the land-use was categorised as ‘agriculture’, which reduced the quantum of quit rent to RM14 annually.

Legal action is underway to nullify the lease and dealership agreements between the former operator and Petronas’ domestic marketing arm Petronas Dagangan Bhd (PDB).

However, as the issues remain unresolved, the family has resorted to another way to draw attention to its predicament.

Since late last week, motorists passing the site of the petrol station have seen several large banners denouncing the Barisan Nasional government. Yesterday, some even stopped to find out what the fuss is all about.

Their curiosity is understandable: two of three banners read: ‘Yet another successful BN project: Launch of a petrol station on agricultural land’.

(This is a parody of the wording used by the ruling coalition on signboards at sites of infrastructure projects, particularly ahead of a general election.)

Another banner describes the petrol station as haram (unlawful).

Abdul Rahim, 25, said this is his family’s way of letting the government and the public know their frustrations with the inaction over the land dispute.

“What have the land and district office, Petronas, and the enforcement authorities been doing these past 23 years? Nothing,” he said when met at the site yesterday.

He named PDB in particular as having exacerbated the problem through an agreement to lease the land from one of its agents - Caristra Holdings Sdn Bhd - for RM6.1 million for a 40-year period.

This happened soon after Caristra offered to buy the land from the family for RM2.4 million, although the latter subsequently backed out of the deal.

Reaction to banners

Abdul Rahim said the family’s anger has been stoked further by authorities’ reaction to the banners.

He said that all kinds of officials - from the office of the Paya Jaras assemblyperson, Shah Alam Municipal Council, local police station, PDB and the state government - have tried to cajole or threaten the family into taking down the banners.

“They asked us why we’re trying to embarrass the BN and bring it into this issue, when it’s something between my family and certain government agencies and Petronas.

“So we told them: Of course you’re partly responsible! You have been ignoring the issues for so long. If it was the (opposition) PAS government ruling, we would be protesting against them as well.”

Abdul Rahim also said officials issuing the warnings and demands have turned silent whenever the issue of ownership has been raised.

Referring to an incident last Saturday when family members had gathered at the site with placards, he said a police officer had actually ordered them to disperse.

“We replied: ‘You’re ordering us to disperse from our own land and forbidding us to gather on it?’ He could not answer. He had nothing else to say after that and left,” added Abdul Rahim with a laugh.