A residents’ coalition from Kampung Jinjang Selatan Tambahan, Segambut, submitted their third memorandum to Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) earlier today, demanding clarification and immediate action over their housing and compensation issues, which have been dragging on for years.
The coalition’s secretary, Ameer Khan Bargathalli, said the memorandum calls upon the authorities to urgently review the process of providing homes and compensation to the original residents of the area, following a development project which began in 2013.
"This is the third time we’re submitting a memorandum. There is still no concrete action from DBKL.
“We only want justice for the residents who have lived here for over 70 years," he told Malaysiakini after submitting the document to Kuala Lumpur mayor Maimunah Sharif, outside the DBKL headquarters.
According to Ameer, many promises have yet to be fulfilled by the authorities, one being that residents receive low compensation.
In addition, he also expressed concerns that some of the compensation recipients were not original residents of the place.
Four main issues
In the memorandum, the residents raised four main issues - two of which addressed the problem involving temporary occupancy licenses (Tol) failing to receive adequate compensation after several years.
Ameer alleged that at least 67 Tol holders had not received offers for alternative free housing, or a replacement home, despite living in the area for seven decades.
He added that 43 shop owners, who also held Tol since the 1970s, have allegedly also not received any compensation or replacement units, contrary to promises made by previous ministry officials.
"We were informed by the then-minister's secretary, Puan Nurin, that the shop owners would be considered for replacement housing. However, there has been no progress since then," he added.
Further, Ameer questioned the persistent delays in the construction of second family homes and the lack of a list of eligible recipients.
Alleging misappropriation in the reallocation of first family homes, he said: "Many housing units have been given to outsiders, not to the original owners. We are worried that the same thing is happening again.”
For context, first family homes refer to residents who had their homes demolished earlier but have yet to receive a new house – while second family homes refer to those who are still living on the land and are awaiting new homes.
Ameer also expressed disappointment that the process to review the census, to investigate claims of “housing rights theft”, was closed without any action.
“DBKL does not want to address the complaint we filed. They asked us to conduct a recount. So, I did it one by one and found that there were outsiders who got the compensation.
“But DBKL did not want to address the complaint we filed," he added.
As such, Ameer urged DBKL to provide an official explanation and take immediate action to ensure justice for residents.
"We do not want this issue to be silenced further. Residents have the right to know their status, and a fair and transparent treatment from DBKL and the authorities," he stressed.
As of press time, DBKL has yet to provide a statement on the matter.
Challenge to Akmal
Ameer also criticised Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh, who had initially questioned the execution of a court order related to the project in Jinjang Selatan Tambahan.
This came after Akmal took to social media to question the authorities' “double standards” in handling the issue of housing demolitions in Kampung Sungai Baru and Jinjang Selatan Tambahan.
The Umno leader said the authorities’ inconsistency had raised questions about the principles of justice, when residents of Kampung Sungai Baru, who legally own the land, are forced with evictions and demolitions, while houses in Jinjang Selatan Tambahan, which are built on government land, are allowed to remain.
"I challenge Akmal to debate with me. Don't just be a jaguh kampung (village champion).
“I want to see if he is a real man, because people say he's so great. If he is so great, then he should come here and meet his match,” Ameer said.
Ameer added that he would be ready to debate Akmal “anywhere, whether at Jinjang, at PWTC, or anywhere else”, regardless of time.
He clarified that the purpose of the debate was not about winning or losing, but to shed light on the residents’ plights and to educate the younger generation about housing rights.
In 2017, the planned demolition of several buildings at Jinjang Selatan Tambahan, Segambut, was postponed following talks with residents. - Mkini
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