Family fighting to save century-old Rawang home

Jimmy Sidhu’s 104-year old bungalow is believed to be the first in Rawang to have an electricity connection. (File pic)

PETALING JAYA: 

A family’s fight to save their 104-year-old bungalow has taken a distressing turn following the receipt of an eviction notice, forcing them to relive nightmares they faced seven years ago.

The property, believed to be the first in Rawang to have an electricity connection, is located 1.8km from the town centre, and neighbours four schools on Jalan Kuala Garing.

House owner Jimmy Sidhu said Jalan Kuala Garing is known for its limestone quarry which has contributed to the area’s economic growth for decades and is considered central to Rawang’s industrial history.

The family was shocked to receive an eviction notice from the Shah Alam High Court on Nov 19, especially as the mining lease is slated to expire on April 25 next year.

Sidhu said the house was initially scheduled to be demolished in September 2017 after his family lost a 10-year court battle waged by companies that hold the mining lease to the land and the spot where the bungalow is situated.

The 49-year-old Sidhu said he was shocked to receive an eviction notice from the Shah Alam High Court on Nov 19, especially as the mining lease is slated to expire on April 25 next year.

“Four generations have lived in this house, and it has been a sanctuary for the family. But we are not sure if we can protect this home,” he said.

“Since there were no activities and with the mining licence set to expire next April, we thought the mining had stopped. But with the eviction notice, we are back in distress as this house may be torn down.”

His family has obtained a stay order from the Shah Alam High Court to stall their eviction.

The house is currently occupied by his family of five, which includes Sidhu’s wife, mother and two children.

Sidhu, who runs a transport business, said that despite decades of effort, the family’s application to acquire the land remains unresolved.

“This home has stood through generations, and now we are fighting to save our heritage,” he said.

Sidhu added that the bungalow and several other houses were originally built in 1920 by Berjuntai Tin Dredging Bhd , which previously held a mining lease for the area.

In 1959, the company sold the property to its employee, Pologa Nathan, who subsequently sold it to Sidhu’s grandmother, Gurtha Kaur.

According to earlier news reports, the family first applied in 1967 to the Kuala Kubu Bharu land office, later renamed the Gombak land office, to acquire the land, but did not receive a reply.

“The latest application was in 2023. To our dismay, there has been no resolution yet,” he said.

Sidhu said Gurtha transferred her interests in the property to the family in 1989 by way of a deed of assignment.

However, he said the mining lease for the land had already been granted to two cement manufacturers by then. - FMT