Two panelists, speaking on housing rights for the marginalised communities in Malaysia , traded barbed remarks at a human rights seminar in Kuala Lumpur this week.

Firstly, rights activist S Arutchelvan placed more emphasis on the urgent need for concrete solutions to long-standing problems faced by vulnerable groups who were denied equal access to housing.

Taking the floor after him was Universiti Malaya deputy vice-chancellor Prof Dr Mohd Razali Agus, who as the last speaker on the three-member panel, declared his intention to provide a "more balanced view" of the housing situation in the country.

His opening salvo came after Arutchelvan's presentation of housing problems from the perspective of a non-governmental organisation, during which he presented specific examples.

Review needed

Speaking on the challenges and opportunities of providing housing for all, Mohd Razali praised the government for being on the right track in implementing the policy, including the Bumiputera quota.

But he also acknowledged the need to review and monitor the implementation methods in order to reach the target group.

He said the 'Zero Squatter by 2005' policy, spearheaded by the Selangor government and now being emulated by Kuala Lumpur, was one of the positive developments as a result of the ruling party's political will.

Mohd Razali, with six books on the subject to his credit, also expounded on why and how the government encouraged all groups to support its vision of an industrialised Malaysia by 2020.

Arutchelvan, who coordinates the Kajang-based Community Development Centre on the plight of displaced and relocated plantation workers, earlier raised the three primary problems faced by vulnerable groups in getting access to housing.

"The fight for land space often results in land disputes. The law also does not afford any protection to the poor. Furthermore, the lack of political will further compounds the problem," he said.

"Unlike the old days, only those with money and influence will eventually own land, especially in the 1990s Malaysia.

"This is the harsh reality of the situation. All of us know the problems faced by the marginalised communities, but to date no one has provided workable solutions."

Act a convenient tool

Citing the Essential Clearance of Squatters (Regulations) Act 1969, he said it has become a convenient tool for the government as seen in the forced relocation of villagers in Kampung Pandan, Kampung Udara and Kampung Rimba Jaya near Klang.

"This is the worst of all laws pertaining to eviction in Malaysia. Although it was enacted during the Emergency to relocate those allegedly linked with communists, it is now being used freely against our own people."

Besides, said Arutchelvan, the government has the broad provisions of the National Land Code on its side to evict communities occupying government or state land.

Condemning the 'Zero Squatter by 2005' policy, he said there was political will "but with all the wrong priorities".

"More priority is given to housing and property developers than vulnerable communities such as urban settlers or early city pioneers, displaced plantation workers and the lower-income group."

He noted that since the 2 nd Malaysia Plan, low-cost housing targets have not been achieved with the exception of the 7 th Plan, which targeted almost half the previous figure.

"Today, we see that there are many luxury and high-cost houses catering for a small minority. A lot of people also buy property to rent out or as an investment to make profit."

Determined by size

Arutchelvan also said that increasing the pricing of low-cost units from RM25,000 to RM42,000, further burden the lower-middle income group.

"This move was to protect the interest of developers. Today, the prices are so high that many in the lower-middle income bracket have been denied housing.

"According to the Housing and Local Government Ministry, house prices are determined by the size and not the financial capacity of this group."

He said the government should join forces with local community initiatives to ensure proper and decent housing for all, instead of being gung-ho about removing squatters by 2005."

The day-long discussion, organised by the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam), saw more than 250 participants from non-governmental organisations, academia, researchers, government agencies and interested parties, including disabled persons and squatter-dwellers.