KL’s forgotten people

About 80 families live in ghetto conditions amidst the city's bustle.

VIDEO INSIDE

KUALA LUMPUR: Tucked between Taman Maluri and the Kampung Pandan Indian settlement in a corner of bustling Kuala Lumpur, is a tiny village without even a name that people can agree to.

Outsiders refer to it as the Kampung Seri Pandan Squatter Settlement, but the residents prefer Kampung Pandan Manalmedu.

The 80-odd families residing there, mostly Indians, live in makeshift sheds and odd structures that one could perhaps refer to as tents. In any case, they look nothing like what one could properly call “houses” and their condition is deplorable.

S Subramaniam, a 62-year-old former engineer, was among the first people to settle there. He said the village represented a forgotten chapter in the nation’s development.

“And we’re a forgotten people,” he added. According to him, not even vote-hungry politicians are bothered about the village.

“Political leaders are more interested in attending functions at five-star hotels than visiting people like us.”

He said the first settlers went there in 1963. Initially, there were only two houses, but the village grew gradually until, at one point, it had 250 settler families. Most have moved out in recent years.

“I was the one who took down all the personal details of the residents and submitted them to the Hulu Langat District Office for registration,” he said. “The village had no name; so we decided to call it Kampung Seri Pandan.”

Subramaniam used to be a member of MIC.

“To be honest,” he said, “from the early days until today the government has done nothing for us. There are no basic amenities—no water supply, no electricity, no toilets.”

“During the British colonial time, there were more than 20 stand pipes in Kampung Pandan itself. But all the pipes were removed by the municipal council some time ago.

“I really don’t know why they have to disconnect the water supply. We’re not going to be millionaires by selling the water. We are just asking the government for water for drink.”

Mosquitoes and dengue
There are plenty of makeshift stores in the neighbourhood that sell recycled materials. According to Subramaniam, they are all illegal.

“I believe they are operating here to avoid any inspection by the local council,” he said.

“You can see yourself that rubbish and garbage are dumped everywhere.

“When it rains, the trouble we get from mosquitoes becomes unbearable. And if I’m not mistaken, nearly 10 people have died from dengue in the last 10 years.”

Subramaniam accused local MIC leaders of pretending to be unaware of the existence of the settlement.

“To be frank, MIC is unnecessary for this village,” he said.

Another resident, K Letchumi, affirmed that “not a single politician” had visited the village.

“Whether BN or Pakatan Rakyat, it makes no difference for us,” she said. “People like them have no use for people like us. Even when we ask them for help, they refuse to spend any time for us.”

However, she said she had still voted in every election.

Asked whether they were willing to move out, several residents said “Yes” as if in chorus.

“Of course, we want to get out of here,” said A Selvakumar. “But the problem is that the government wants to relocate us at places that are too far away.

“For example, about five years ago the government proposed that we move to Puchong. But we shot down the idea because most of us work near Kampung Pandan.

“How do they expect us to move to Puchong when it is so far away from Kuala Lumpur?

“We don’t mind it even if they move us to low-cost flats. But the place must be near to where we work.”