Some 100 Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) officers descended this morning on 10 of the 124 farming lots, catching the farmers off-guard. Devastated farmers watched helplessly as bulldozers flattened their homes – and their livelihood.
The demolition which was originally slated to have taken place two weeks ago did not happen after word got out that the farmers had gathered at the farm in preparation for a standoff.
But this time round the farmers were few and were no match for the federal authorities.
Speaking to reporters at the scene today, Selangor exco and Seri Kembangan assemblyman Ean Yong Hian Wah said: “At about 8am, officers from Syabas and DBKL and the police, under instructions from the federal land office, came to the farms and started demolishing the structures with three bulldozers.”
“We are disappointed and angry. The actions of the federal government were brutal. They did not inform or even consider any discussions. They are adamanat about not giving any compensation.
“Is this the 1Malaysia spirit? I don’t think so.”
Ean Yong said the farmers were willing to cooperate with the government and had been attempting for the past several weeks to seek a peaceful negotiation but they have been ignored.
Compensation
Eng Yong said the farmers’ requests were simple. “They just wanted some sort of compensation as the farms were their only source of
“Today, we were only able to save two structures. The land officers gave two farms rearing bullfrogs and fish three more days to move out,” he said.
Serdang MP Teo Nie Ching, who was also at the scene, said: ” We’ve been told that the losses of these 124 or so farmers would amount to about RM1.6 million.
“I think this is only a small sum for the federal government to compensate. Some of them are only asking for a couple of thousands.”
Acknowledging that the farms were illegally sited, Teo said it was nevertheless “a conventional (practice) for some form of compensation to be given to these people”.
She cited the case of Kampung Buah Pala, Penang, where the state managed to fight for compensation to be given to the people living there.
“When I asked the land officer, he said he was simply given orders that no compensation be paid.”
“The demolition took place right before Chinese New Year. Couldn’t this have waited? Give the farmers a few more weeks at least, so that they can collect their items and at least celebrate the festive season.”
Teo also said that it was unprofessional of the police to stop her and the press from going into the farm area, adding: “Are they trying to hide from the public the brutality and violence of their actions?”
Livelihood lost
One man, Lew Lai Fatt, 69, stood adamantly before the bulldozer for several minutes but was hauled away by a group of officers.
“I live there, that’s why I tried to stop them. But it was no use. I know it’s not legal but don’t they have a better way of doing things instead of destroying our homes? Why can’t they talk to us first?” Lew said.
The few farmers were unable to do much because if they put up a fight, they would be hauled away.
One farmer only managed to save a television set in his home, while another lost his dog when his house crashed and killed his pet during the demolition.
In another encounter, a farmer was even allegedly told to “balik China” after he quarrelled with the enforcement officers.
“We will be lodging a police report on the ‘balik Cina’ incident. Farmers also told us the authorities even stole their chickens… we may include this in our report,” said Teo.
The land in question belongs to the Ministry of Defence and in the past several years the farmers have been told to leave but have refused.
It is believed that the ministry has plans to build an academy on the the land under a private initiative funding project.
Late last year, the farmers were told that the last chance to move out was on Dec 2. They applied for temporary occupation licence for the land but were rejected. - FMT
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