While doubts and discrepancies hang over the construction of a RM1.5 billion giant incinerator in Kampung Bohol, Puchong, some squatters are crying foul at being left out of the ongoing relocation exercise by the government.

Although almost all 150 families in the settlement have moved from their longhouses to low-cost flats in Kampung Lima, Pantai Dalam to make way for the mega-project, five families have been allegedly left out of the relocation list.

Disgruntled resident S Panir Selvam, 50, who has stayed there for more than two decades, complained that five families, including his, were not on the list.

He explained that though his family relocated to Rawang a few years ago due to trouble in the village, he is still staying put as he has to earn a living there.

Trickery

"I still stay in the house here as my entire business network is based in Puchong," he said when met yesterday on the site strewn with household debris.

Hundreds of gallons of processed water have been flowing out of numerous burst pipes since last week after unidentified bulldozers demolished a large part of the settlement.

Panir Selvam said Lembah Pantai MP Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, when visiting the area in June, had asked them to stay put until they get the sale and purchase agreements.

Although they have yet to receive anything on paper, some of them have already been asked to collect the keys to the low-cost units last month, further confusing them, he added.

The proposed plant, said to be the largest in Asia with a maximum treatment capacity of 1,500 tonnes of waste per day, is sited exactly where the longhouses had stood.

The longhouses were built to accommodate residents who were previously squatting on land where the Kesas highway runs through Puchong.

Panir Selvam said several representatives, including the village chief who claimed to be the local MIC branch chairperson, had promised that all residents who are forced to relocate will get alternative housing.

Yet the village chief was the first to pack up his bags and move out, leaving the residents to their uncertain fate, he added.

"We have been tricked by so many people," Panir Selvam said, shaking his head.

When contacted yesterday, Radzi Abdullah, special officer to Shahrizat who is Women and Family Development Minister, begged to differ on the residents' accusations of trickery.

Desperation and greed

"I've handled the Kampung Bohol issue for more than two years now. There are many discrepancies in the personal information given by the residents," Radzi charged.

"In one case, a woman who lived with her unmarried son was denied a low-cost unit because she was not working and thus, unable to pay rental. As for her son, City Hall's policy is never to provide housing for singles.

"Her married daughter was given a unit," Radzi explained, adding that the eviction notice issued about three months ago had been extended until Sept 15 (Sunday).

Radzi said the total number of families there fluctuated between 150 and 170 since the first census was taken by the village's housing programme working committee and City Hall.

"City Hall conducted the census five times, including at odd hours in order to catch them at home. They came up with 151 families whereas the committee's list showed 167 families."

Denying that last week's demolition was done by the authorities, he said residents instead should be blamed, charging that they had rushed off to sell the wood and other material the houses were made of before demolishing them.

"The cabinet has directed us to provide them [permanent] houses, and lots have been allocated accordingly in a new residential area in Taman Lestari, Puchong. I don't see any problem here," he said.

Radzi added that the RM1,000 government compensation for each family had been paid to City Hall which in turn will deduct about RM500 for rental and as deposit for utilities, and return the balance to the residents.

Then, taking a different tack, he continued, "But I would like to ask Teresa Kok where she has been the last two years, when this was first raised. Why promise things now when you cannot deliver, and mislead the illiterate and the aged?"

He was referring to DAP's Sunday morning visit to the village where the Seputeh MP and Cheras MP Tan Kok Wai had taken down the personal details of families whose names were not included on the relocation list. According to DAP there were nine families who had been left out.

The situation became tense when about 40 people comprising journalists, press photographers, DAP members as well as uniformed and plainclothes police, gathered at the village entrance.

Police escort

When contacted today, CS Khong, special assistant to Kok, said the immediate concern was to get them a place to stay because the remaining houses were scheduled for demolition this week.

"Fortunately, City Hall has agreed to do another census of the nine families and have allowed four to remain there temporarily. The other five had moved in with relatives earlier.

"We are trying to obtain all relevant documents in writing from City Hall, such as the offer letter for alternative housing or the sale and purchase agreement."

The DAP entourage, including its publicity chief Ronnie Liu, were initially barred from proceeding to the makeshift temple at the back of the village where the residents were preparing a prayer feast.

A minor argument ensued between Khong, Teresa and Sungai Besi police station chief Rapolla Abdul Satar, who told them that they "can meet the people but not talk to them".

"You need a permit to talk to them in public," he insisted at first, but later relented. The police 'accompanied' the DAP group throughout the afternoon.