Wednesday, August 30, 2023

Gombak residents want Selangor MB’s intervention again over eviction order

 


Some 20 residents of Kampung Sri Makmur in Gombak are renewing their calls for Selangor Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari to intervene over another eviction order for them to accommodate a condominium project.

In a protest near the state secretariat building in Shah Alam this morning, they presented a memorandum to Amirudin's special officer Shahril Said.

“This is the third time we are standing outside the state secretariat building demanding Amirudin to come meet us.

“We’re not asking for money, we just want him to understand our problem and help us,” Kampung Sri Makmur Residents Association president Noora Mustafa told reporters.

The residents first received an eviction notice in 2019, which prompted them to submit memorandums to the menteri besar in March and October last year.

The second notice was issued on Aug 18 where the court ordered the residents to vacate the land by Aug 31.

Same demands, same silence

Noora explained that the memorandum that was handed in today contained similar demands as the previous ones.

The residents emphasised their two options; either they are allowed to move to the same area if the condominium project includes units priced under RM150,000, or they are provided relocation to the Sri Temenggong Flats under the Rumah Selangorku housing initiative.

Additionally, they requested permission to remain in the area during the project's construction or receive compensation of RM700 per family for rent until the project is completed.

Furthermore, considering that the Selangor State Development Corporation (PKNS) is both the landowner and project developer, the residents also urged the menteri besar to engage with PKNS to postpone the demolition process.

“We understand that PKNS can legally evict us. We’ve already gone to court about this but the least they could do is let us stay there until our housing situations are sorted.

“Although they (PKNS) attempted to offer us housing options, they were priced beyond our financial means, and our limited incomes prevented us from qualifying for loans.

“But, if the menteri besar can relocate us to the Sri Temenggong flats, then we are more than happy to pay the rent. I want to make it clear that we’re not asking for free housing,” Noora stressed.

According to the residents, there are now 72 families left in Kampung Sri Makmur, some of whom have lived there since 1989.

In the same vein, PSM deputy president S Arutchelvan, who was present at the protest, emphasised that given the residents' adherence to the eviction, Amirudin should extend his assistance to them.

“It’s not easy to find homes these days, especially since they (the residents) don’t earn much. Most of them are veterans or come from families with military backgrounds.

“I hope he (Amirudin) can help, it’s not fair for the residents (to not be relocated to proper housings),” he said. - Mkini


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