‘Give us justice or death’

Company shareholders go on a hunger strike to force the Pahang government to pay what it owes them

KUALA LUMPUR: Two men began a hunger strike this morning in protest against the Pahang government’s refusal to abide by a court ruling to pay their company nearly RM70 million.

The two, John Chong and Ramli Suleiman, said they preferred death to injustice. They pledged that they would remain camped under a tree in front of the Loke Hup temple in Segambut and would take only water until the state paid up or until they collapsed.

Eight other people are on standby to take their place if they expire. They call it a “hunger strike relay”.

Chong, Ramli and some of the others in the relay are shareholders of logging firm Seruan Gemilang Makmur Sdn Bhd, which in 2002 sued the state for breaching a logging contract.

In May 2007, the Kuantan High Court ruled in the plaintiffs’ favour and ordered the state to pay them more than RM37 million plus interest of 8% per annum. The total came close to RM70 million.

“We’re doing this not so much for the money, but to seek justice,” said the 68-year-old Chong, who was once a High Court official.

“The Pahang government is defying the law. I was a court officer and we know that justice delayed is justice denied.

“I’m serious. I’m prepared to refrain from food until the state government pays up or until I collapse.”

Ramli, 46, is a former elite force policemen who once served as a bodyguard for the Sultan of Pahang. He said his family supported his action.

“Even if I go through pain and die, it’s okay,” he said.

“I’m doing this for me, my family and the rakyat so the government won’t do to this to people again.

“I am unhappy with the Pahang government. The Menteri Besar is pretending to be ruling the state fairly. But see what has happened. The rakyat has been wronged. How can he be a menteri besar if he cannot solve even this simple problem?

“Because of him, Pahang’s image suffers. He should step down. Many others are able to replace him.”

Najib should intervene

Ramli said that he and his group had exhausted all legal avenues—including going through the Federal Court—to force the state they pay what it owed them, but to no avail.

“This is the only thing we can do. These people can do anything to us and get away with it.”

Among the members of the relay team is Seruan Gemilang manager Lee Sin. He said the company would donate at least RM3 million to charity if the state paid up in full.

DAP vice chairman and Cheras MP Tan Kok Wai, who was at the scene of the strike, called on Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak to intervene.

“The Prime Minister must act to ensure the state government honours the order of the court, or else the state and even the country’s image will suffer and investments will be affected,” Tan said.

“It’s mandatory, and a statutory duty, for a government to adhere to a court ruling. It’s sad that under the Rules of the High Court, nothing can be done against a government body. If it was an individual, we could still take him to court.”

Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng, also of DAP, said he would visit the protesters every day. “I’ll make sure they are not harassed by the police or local council,” he said.