IPOH: One hundered and eighty-three families in Kampung Meru Tin Jelapang are caught in a dilemma because the state government has reneged on a promise to develop their land.
Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) committee member K Kunasegaran said the land and 10 lots of shophouses were to be handed over to a developer for improving Kampung Meru Tin Jelapang.
However, the state government has thrown a spanner in the works by allocating five lots of the shophouses to another party and this has angered the developer.
Sakabumi Sdn Bhd said that the state government had breached the terms and conditions in an agreement to develop the land signed on March 8, 2010.
Sakabumi which is scheduled to enter into a land development agreement with the villagers on March 27, 2011 is now refusing to do so because of the state government’s action.
According to Kunasegaran, the developer will attempt to renegotiate with the state government, failing which they may hand over the land back to the state.
Kunasegaran has been spearheading a 14-year campaign for alternative housing for these families who have been living and ekeing out a living in Kampung Meru Tin since 1940.
No resolution in sight
The villagers are now caught in a dilemma as they have already made preparations to move out and make way for the development. Many have booked alterative houses for rent.
Their problem has gone through four menteris besar from Ramli Ngah Talib, Mohd Tajol Rosli Mohd Ghazali, Mohd Nizar Jamaluddin and Zambry Abdul Kadir with no resolution in sight.
The Kampung Meru Tin residents comprise 60% Chinese and 40% Indians and most are in the lower income group consisting mainly of hawkers, factory and contract workers.
Initially, in 1997, the project to develop the land was given to Syarikat Wise Fair Sdn Bhd which attempted to evict the residents but they stood their ground and refused to budge.
The state government took back the land from the developer in 2004.
During Tajol’s term, the families were asked to pay RM15,000 for each lot which included development costs, infrastructure and land premium but they refused, saying the rate was high.
After Perak fell to Pakatan in 2008, Nizar’s open tender policy for the development of the land resulted in the price for the development coming down to RM12,300.
According to Kunasegaran, each squatter was promised a 45’ X 80’ plot with all the infrastructures in place for RM12,300 to paid in 12 instalments. - FMT
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