'We'll prove to MB we are original residents of Kg Sri Makmur'

 

Kampung Sri Makmur community leader Mohd Azhar Ariff said his group is willing to take up the challenge of Selangor Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari to prove that they are the original residents of the village.

This followed Amirudin’s statement asking the affected residents to prove that they are original inhabitants who deserve to be resettled due to the demolition of homes in the area.

“We responded to the menteri besar’s challenge and are gathering all documents and evidence as requested.

“We will send a list of names (of residents) in the near future,” he said when met by Malaysiakini yesterday.

Mohd Azhar Ariff

Previously, the media reported that only 21 affected families received an offer to purchase a unit of Rumah Selangorku at a subsidised price of RM65,000 and a compensation cheque of RM1,000.

Last Thursday, Amirudin said the rest of the families who claimed to be affected by the demolition of their homes in Kampung Sri Makmur, Gombak, last Monday must prove that they were original residents who qualified for resettlement and that they have not received compensation from any other party.

Amirudin said many opportunities have been given to the villagers in the past three years.

He added that one of the reasons for the demolition was the large number of migrants living in the area.

‘Not our duty to monitor migrants’

Meanwhile, Azhar explained that although some residents have moved out and are staying at relatives’ houses, some have been forced to live in vehicles or tents erected next to the demolished village.

“Some live in vans and have set up tents by the bushes. Most of these people have financial constraints to rent another house,” he added.

A resident’s belongings seen at a tent outside Kampung Sri Makmur

On the claim of migrants living in the area, Azhar’s deputy Ibrahim Din confirmed the matter but said it was the authorities’ responsibility to address the issue, not the residents.

“It is true that there are (migrants) who rent but the percentage is small, approximately 10 percent. We have no power to stop them (renting) here.

“We have authorities, that should be their job,” he added.

Commenting further, Azhar said a group of residents have demanded that the Selangor government provide a replacement house in addition to a moving cost of RM10,000.

“Our big hope is for the government to negotiate with us but that did not happen,” he said.

Eviction according to procedure

Separately, the Gombak District and Land Office said the eviction and demolition of the settlement which encroached on the land owned by the Selangor State Development Corporation (PKNS) on May 27 and 28 was based on an order issued by the Shah Alam High Court on May 14.

It said a police report had been filed at the Gombak police headquarters after four enforcement officers were attacked by the structure owners.

According to a statement from PKNS, the issue in the area began in July 2006, when some houses were demolished, but a census in 2016 found the number of houses had increased to 204 units compared to 80 in 2006.

PKNS disclosed that the land in the village was sold to a company on Sept 8, 2020, and subsequently, the company secured a court order for the demolition of all structures on the land on May 14.

The Selangor government also offered to sell Rumah Selangorku units at a subsidised price of RM65,000 and provide a goodwill gesture of RM1,000 to 21 original squatters, based on census confirmation in 2006 and 2016 based on the Gombak office list. - Mkini