Spurned by BN for decades, Blue Valley's Indians plead for help

CAMERON POLLS | Throughout the Cameron Highlands by-election, BN's slogan has been 'tiada janji, lihat bukti' (no promises, just look at the evidence).

But for the Indian community in the Blue Valley region, who make up 81 percent of the electorate in this voting district, the only evidence they saw was empty promises to help them make an honest living.

During a recent visit to the area, Malaysiakini met Ramsamy, 72, and his daughter R Revanthi, 49 (photo above) who live in a dilapidated wooden house that also doubled as their foodstall, which feeds workers from the surrounding farms.

They have lived there and ran their business for 30 years. However, their house is at risk of being torn down and Ramsamy has been denied a licence to operate the stall.

Revanthi said she has been seeking a licence from the Pahang government for a decade to no avail. They were told to wait and their patience is running thin.

"They cut off our water, our electricity, we have no safety. Some people have come to my stall and destroyed the roof in front," she said.

The zinc roof of the shack was mostly rusted, allowing the rays of the midday sun to shine through. There were no customers.

Their building was one of the few that were left in what was once a tea plantation commune in this part of Blue Valley. Most have been resettled or moved away.

Apart from the licence for their foodstall, she said the new estate owner has offered most of their former neighbours compensation to move out of the area, except them.

"We are waiting for them to come to talk to us (about the compensation)," she said.

Revathi and several others in a similar plight have sought help from then Pahang menteri besar Adnan Yaakob in 2017.

"He just told us to wait. Wait, wait, wait, until when do we have to wait?" she said.

Denied business licences

Relating a similar experience, K Nehru, 29, said his family has attempted to apply for a temporary occupation licence for his father's two-acre farm for 30 years.

"He has applied for a licence for 30 years, and we still have not received it until now," he said to Malaysiakini.

In 2015 his father's house was destroyed in a landslide. Nehru's father suffered serious injuries and is unable to work.

"We have tried many times to meet with MIC and BN, but no one will help us.

"But when it was time to vote, they told us they will help us, but until now we have received no help," said Nehru (photo below).

He has also applied for a licence to open his own workshop so he can do welding work, but that also has not worked out.

His family, which consists of his elderly parents, his younger sibling and himself, now lives in a rented house. He and his sibling are struggling to pay the RM1,000 a month rent.

Nehru said he just wants to get the licences for his family's farm and his workshop and to rebuild his house.

"They (politicians) make promises to us, but they never do it," he lamented.

S Siva Balan, 34, also complained of empty promises by the state administration. He, too, was part of the delegation that met Adnan in 2017.

A lorry driver by trade, Siva Balan (photo above) is hoping to set up a car wash business in Blue Valley.

He has gone through the due process, but only approached Adnan as a last resort.

"They just made promises. After the 14th general election, we have not heard from them," said Siva Balan.

Ramsamy, who has voted in 10 general elections, said he has consistently voted for BN, except in the 14th general election.

Tired of BN's empty promises, he said he voted for the "rocket" in the last general election, referring to DAP's logo.

"They (Pakatan Harapan) are still new. We don't know how they will perform yet. Let us see," he said.

Of the 246 voters in Blue Valley district, some 53 percent voted for Harapan in the last election, followed by BN (35 percent) and PSM (10 percent). - Mkini