Two nabbed during protest over forced eviction in Penang

Two persons were arrested by police this morning in connection with a protest by residents who were evicted from their public housing homes at Padang Tembak, Air Itam in Penang.

PSM committee member Choo Chon Kai said the duo were nabbed by police during the forced eviction of residents from seven public housing units.

He said the duo were detained at the Air Itam police station until about 12 pm for obstructing public officials from carrying out their duties.

The duo were identified as PSM committee member Karthiges Rajamanickam and a friend of one of the evicted residents, Nathan Munusamy.

"The evicted families had been seeking a meeting with state exco for housing Jagdeep Singh Deo since December last year,” said Choo.

At the time of writing, the evicted families were waiting outside Jagdeep's office in Komtar to seek a solution to their plight.

Jagdeep last week said that there was a long waiting list for public housing units in Penang and those who did not qualify would have to make way for applicants who met all the criteria including being Malaysian citizens from low-income groups.

Choo said the eviction notices were issued on the basis that tenants had overdue rent or were married to foreigners.

"It does not make sense to evict someone simply because he or she is married to a foreigner," he added.

"The eviction of such people shows that there is discrimination against those in the B40 group in that they have no right to choose their own partners in marriage if they wish to stay in public housing units," Choo said.

"As for non-payment of rentals, the reasons are tied to their low-income status. It is unfair and senseless for the state government to evict poor people from their homes so that other poor people can live in it," Choo added.

He said the problem of lack of public housing units in Penang could only be resolved by building more of such units and not by evicting existing residents.

"Please stop the eviction of poor people living in public housing units. The state government must meet those affected to find an amicable solution to their problems." -Mkini