Kg Hakka residents demand meeting with developer

Residents of Kampung Hakka, the 100-year-old village continue their protest against developer Mega 9.

SEREMBAN: Kampung Hakka villagers in Mantin, Negeri Sembilan today staged another protest, this time in front of the Mega 9 Housing Sdn Bhd office, the developer who intends to build a commercial project on the 100-year-old village site.

Together with Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) leaders and activists from Jaringan Rakyat Tertindas (Jerit), the villagers protested and shouted for the chairman of the Mega 9, Ng Kek Kiong to come out and meet for a discussion.

There did not appear to be anyone in the developer’s office during the one hour protest.

Jerit coordinator R Ghandi, speaking on behalf of the villagers, said that until today the developer had not taken initiatives to hold discussions or negotiations with the villagers.

“We want the developer to meet the villagers and solve the problem once and for all.

“The reason we are here is to protest the developer’s disrespect of the court order issued on Oct 31.

“The villagers managed to get a ‘stay order’ from the Court of Appeal on Oct 31 whereby the developer cannot proceed with development work until verdict of the case is decided.

“However the developer is still continuing with earth and development works at Kampung Hakka.

The villagers want Mega 9 Housing Sdn Bhd to stop current development work immediately.

“The villagers also want to meet Ng to demand compensation for the demolition of Chi Chi Old Boys School Association building and a house adjacent to the building.

“Both buildings were not given any notice prior to the demolition on Oct 31. We want the developer to (re)build the respective buildings at their own cost,” explained Ghandi.

Rebuilding demolished houses

Meanwhile Seremban PSM secretary, S Tinagaran informed journalists that his party members in a ‘gotong royong’ exercise with Jerit activists and the villagers will rebuild the 10 demolished houses, starting today.

“The residents affected have already set up temporary tents and have been living in the tents since last week.

“We will help them to build a temporary house as shelter for them for the time being,” said Tinagaran.

Venting anger against the developer, the villagers pasted various slogans targeting the developer, Umno and MCA as well as a copy of the courts’ ‘stay order’ onto the developer’s office glass door.