Habitat Day sees M'sians in KL street protest

Over a hundred people and activists caught the eye in the city centre with their specially made 'paper housing caps', to protest recent forced evictions and that many Malaysians have been denied affordable housing.

The street demonstration held this evening was organised by the Oppressed People's Network (Jerit), Parti Sosialis Malaysia and eight social movement groups, in conjunction with World Habitat Day which falls on the first Monday in October.

The group consisting of people of various ethnic backgrounds, then marched from the Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (KLSCAH) to Jalan Sultan,just few hundred metres away from the 118-storey Menara Warisan to oppose the construction of the skyscraper.

The theme for the street demonstration, which was endorsed by 43 NGOs was ‘people want houses, not Menara Warisan'.

The protest fought for multiple issues - lack of affordable housing, forced evictions, residents threatened with hazardous industries near their homes, and aboriginal people's right to land.

The residents from Kampung Hakka, Mantin, Ladang Semenyin, Ladang Denudin, whose houses were acquired, were among the marchers.

Also spotted were residents from Taman Permata, Dengkil, who are demanding safe houses. They have been forced to camp for 118 days outside as their flats are allegedly unsafe.

Around ten policemen were present and help to control traffic to facilitate the march.

As a member of the United Nations, Malaysia has signed resolutions, which recognise the people's right to adequate shelter and against forced eviction, said S Arutchelvan, secretary general of PSM.

He referred to the Declaration Habitat Agenda in 1992, Agenda 21 and United Nations Commission on Human Settlements resolution in 1993.

"The Malaysian government told the UN that it would not adopt forced evictions, but it happens," he said.

"Habitat Day is our day. What we want? Comfortable houses," shouted the group as it marched toward Jalan Sultan.

They ended the protest with a declaration at the junction of Jalan Sultan and Jalan Hang Jebat.

Among the demands of the declaration, were the need to plan affordable housing, and stop threatening the people's habitat with projects such as Lynas, the Bukit Koman gold mine and the petrochemical project in Pengerang.

They also demanded the government to take over the maintenance of low and medium price flats, amend estate workers housing schemes, and recognise native customary rights land.

Others organisers were Suara Rakyat Malaysia, Pusat Komuniti Masyarakat (Komas), Lawyers for Liberty, KLSCAH Youth, Malaysia Youth & Students Democratic Movement (Dema), and Persatuan Sahabat Wanita, Selangor.