About 150 residents from seven villages and housing estates in Sungai Siput, Perak, today handed over a memorandum to the state government demanding a solution to land ownership issues that have allegedly dragged on for more than 15 years.
Led by PSM, the memorandum was handed over to the state government through the Sungai Siput Land and District Office (PTD) by residents of Kampung Bengali, Kampung Sungai Buloh, Kampung Veerasamy, Kampung Jalan Lintang, Kampung Perak Hydro, Kampung Pokok Api, and Taman Dovenby Phase 2.
According to PSM central committee member Karthiges Rajamanickram, the residents initially found the main gate of the PTD locked, even though their attendance had been notified more than 10 days in advance.
He said a PTD representative initially wanted to hand over a response letter to the residents at the entrance, but the residents’ representatives insisted on being allowed entry for a face-to-face explanation.
In a statement today, Karthiges detailed that after negotiations, a total of 16 resident representatives, together with PSM representatives, were allowed to meet Sungai Siput chief assistant district officer, Khaizurul Ezwan Baharuddin.
Karthiges added that as a result of the meeting, the PTD conveyed several decisions in writing, including recommendations for the granting of land titles to residents of Kampung Bengali, Kampung Sungai Buloh, and Kampung Veerasamy.
As for Kampung Jalan Lintang, he said the proposed project has been approved and will be managed by the Perak Housing and Property Board (LPHP), thereby allowing settlers to obtain titles for the housing sites they currently occupy.
Meanwhile, residents of Kampung Perak Hydro and Kampung Pokok Api were asked to resubmit land applications under the Organised Village Scheme, with the PTD promising to provide its backing.
“For Taman Dovenby Phase 2, the PTD informed that the proposed land acquisition will be recommended to the Land and Mines Office (PTG), while residents continue to demand a solution based on the house-for-house replacement concept,” he said.
Progress, finally
Karthiges also described the development as a “first victory” after more than 15 years of residents fighting for their land rights.
“These decisions were given to us in writing and are warmly welcomed by the Sungai Siput Land Rights Committee. This is the first victory after 15 years of our struggle.
“PSM will continue to lead this struggle together until all decisions announced are realised,” he affirmed.
In the memorandum handed over today, residents claimed that most families in the seven settlements involved have lived in the area for between 30 and 70 years but still do not own land grants, despite submitting applications since 2010.
They also alleged that most of the applications received no response from the authorities.
Also present during the handover of the memorandum with the Sungai Siput residents and their protest was PSM national chairperson and former Sungai Siput MP Jeyakumar Devaraj.
The issue of land ownership in the seven settlements has dragged on since at least 2010, with most of the areas involved featuring lands with Temporary Occupation Licence status or old settlements that have been occupied by residents for over seven decades.
Without grants, residents said they continue to face uncertainty about their residential status and the risk of eviction, leading to their demands for the land they occupy to be gazetted as legitimate residential sites.
Most of the affected residents are those from B40 households. - Mkini
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.