Former durian farm workers want state to solve housing woes, or else …

 

Former workers of the durian farm in Kuala Langat holding banners asking the Selangor government to keep its election promises.

PETALING JAYA: About 200 former durian farm workers in Kuala Langat have urged the Selangor state government to step in and resolve their problems or face having Pakatan Harapan (PH) rejected in the next general election.

The 200 residents sent a memorandum to Selangor menteri besar Amirudin Shari detailing two major issues they wanted the state government to resolve.

The first issue was that of abandoned housing project meant for 109 former farm workers.

Amirudin had visited the durian farm on March 21 this year, promising to hold a meeting with the relevant parties regarding the abandoned project.

“It has been more than six months and the menteri besar has not given any positive response to the promises made that day,” said Vasantha Kumar, an adviser to the durian farm workers, in the memorandum.

He said the promises made four times by the PH leaders, including Amirudin, to resolve the housing issue had not been kept.

“We have been deceived in the last three elections. They came here to appeal for votes promising to solve the housing issue.

“PH won at the state and federal levels but our problems have remained unsolved.”

The second issue involved the electricity supply to the durian farm which has been cut since Aug 23. This has badly affected the 23 former workers and their families staying there.

Kumar said the electricity supply was cut after the land was sold.

He said they were informed that the new owners of the land, Seriemas Development Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of Permodalan Nasional Berhad, had nothing to do with the earlier agreement to instal electricity meters for each house.

“We were told they would not interfere in housing matters involving the 23 families.”

Selangor housing exco member Rodziah Ismail explained today that there had been no agreement between the farm workers and the developer, Era Permai Sdn Bhd regarding the house prices.

“The state government has no objection to the new house prices proposed by the developer but it is conditional that they obtain the consent of all 109 farm workers,” she said.

Rodziah said the state government had proposed that the developer and farm workers resolve this matter through legal channels as both parties are bound by the clauses in the power of attorney (PA) and sale and purchase agreement.

She said the matter could be resolved if the developer relinquishes the appointment as PA holder and is responsible for any payments taken by landowners or residents, or if the landowners cancel the PA letter given by the developer.

Kumar, however, said the sale of the land was approved by both the Selangor state plantation board committee and Amirudin.

“The Selangor menteri besar and the state executive council should have given priority to the residents before making any decision to approve the transfer of the estate land,” Kumar said.

The workers requested Amirudin to hold a meeting with Seriemas, Sime Darby, Tenaga Nasional Berhad and the durian farm’s ex-workers committee to resolve the issues. - FMT