In the face of eviction, families hope for some form of intervention

ADUN SPEAKS | Unless there is a timely intervention on the part of the government or other agencies, there is a great likelihood of forced eviction of 23 families and the destruction of Hindu temples in Ladang Sungei Kecil in Nibong Tebal, Penang.

Ladang Sungei Kecil is just a short distance from the town of Nibong Tebal in the southern district of Seberang Perai Selatan (SPS).

SPS is not as developed as the other four districts in Penang. However, with the establishment of an industrial zone in Batu Kawan, the future looks bright for SPS as a whole.

There are not many plantations left in Penang, most of them have been sold and some were acquired by the state for commercial and industrial development.

Ladang Sungai Kecil is about six acres. It is surrounded by Malay kampungs.

I am not sure how many times the ownership of this area has changed in the past.

Perhaps this piece of land was part of a larger plantation in the past.

Workers have been staying in their quarters here for generations.

Many have left the plantation seeking greener pastures. Presently, 23 families are left on the plantation but they are employed elsewhere.

Before the new owner purchased the plantation, workers were able to buy their existing quarters from the former owner. They have documents to prove this transaction, a deal not honoured by the present owner.

Eviction notices were issued to the households about two years back.

The families were left without any choice but to engage their own lawyers to contest the eviction on the grounds that the houses belong to them and to request for a reasonable compensation or alternative land to rebuild their houses.

There are two big Hindu temples with a number of small shrines, a fitting testimony to the history and struggle of Tamil workers in this area.

If the landowner wins the case, there is a real possibility of not only eviction of the families with many schoolgoing children, but also the destruction of the places of worship.

This is the reason why the Penang Hindu Endowments Board (PHEB), an agency of the Penang state government, is also a party that challenges the eviction notice.

PHEB wants the temples to be protected as they have been placed under its jurisdiction.

It is not that the settlers are unreasonable.

Through the representation of the PHEB and its lawyers, attempts have been to amicably settle the matter.

The PHEB is even willing to buy the land to protect the families and the temples.

However, the owner is adamant on evicting the families. He has been sending his agents daily to the plantation to threaten the families and conveying the message that it was a matter of time before tractors and heavy machinery will be sent to demolish their dwellings and temples.

The owner, it seems on one occasion, said: “Even Ramasamy can’t save the families from the destruction of their homes and temples”.

The plantation land, including the area of the quarters and temples, was bought by the present owner for a very low price of about RM1 million recently.

Considering the land price in Penang, the price paid was not significant at all.

Once the structures are removed and families evicted, there is a chance that the owner might be able to sell the land at least ten to fifteen times the cost value to prospective developers in the area.

There is a possibility that the land could be sold to a prospective developer for the future development of a township.

The most unfortunate thing is that there is no federal or state legislation to protect the rights of workers and their families facing the prospect of eviction.

There is no alternative land or house ownership scheme or even a reasonable compensation.

Apart from placing their faith on their lawyers, the families are also hoping for some form of divine intervention to put a stop to this inhumane action.

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P RAMASAMY is Perai assemblyperson, deputy chief minister II of Penang and chairperson of Penang Hindu Endowment Board. - Mkini