One of the Pengerang residents disgruntled with the RM60 billion Refinery and Petrochemicals Integrated Development (Rapid) project, Chua Peng Sian, has embarked on the final leg of his 500km protest walk and is due to arrive in Kuala Lumpur this evening.

Chua’s 12-day journey is to protest against the relocation of Chinese cemetery in his village to make way for the Pengerang Integrated Petroleum Complex (PIPC).

Chua, 49 ( right ), who is acting chairperson of the Save Pengerang NGO Alliance, has gained the nickname “Toothless Uncle” since he began his journey.

He resumed his walk in Semenyih this morning and is expected to reach the Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (KLSCAH) at 5.30pm.

He will spend the night at Dataran Merdeka and end his journey tomorrow morning, with a walk to the Petronas Twin Towers, where he will make an effort to meet with the chief executive officer of Rapid.

Memorandum to be handed over

Asked about the leg injury he suffered over the 475km distance that he has so far covered, Chua said his legs underwent good recovery, leaving only minor sores on his toes.

“I am still suffering from cough, as I have not been fully recovered yet. The cough has only been a small disturbance along my journey, though certain parts of the route were not easy for me,” he added.

However, Chua said, he would not put a pause to his journey as the fate of the Pengerang Chinese cemetery was already at stake.

“I just try my best to walk to Kuala Lumpur, and quickly hand over copies of the memorandum to the respective units, including Parliament, because the relocation of the graves has been going on as I walked in protest,” he told Malaysiakini this morning.

“I hope little actions like this can stop the barbaric behaviour (of the authorities) and help preserve our graves.”

KLSCAH chief executive officer Tang Ah Chai and others who joined Chua in his walk to KL this morning voiced solidarity with Chua in the protest against the relocation of the cemetery.

A total of 3,400 graveyards have been scheduled to be relocated from the Pengerang Chinese cemetery from March this year.