Despite the deadlock between Petronas and Pengerang residents over the relocation of a cemetery, the oil company's staff welcomed disgruntled residents with drinking water and towels when they arrived at the Petronas Twin Towers to hand over a memorandum.

Some 10 Petronas staff distributed the drinking water and towels to about 40 Pengerang residents who had walked from the Parliament building under the hot sun.

They included Save Pengerang NGO Alliance acting chairperson Chua Peng Sian, who walked 500 kilometres from Pengerang in Johor to Kuala Lumpur in protest.

Chua, who submitted the memorandum to Petronas Strategic Communications senior manager Norliza Kamaruddin, commended the act of the company staff as "humane".

He said that this was in contrast with what the residents had experienced in the past two years, when residents were chased out or threatened when they tried to approach Petronas and government officials on the matter relocation of the graves.

The residents are protesting the relocation of more than 3,000 graves to make way for the Petronas Refinery and Petrochemicals Integrated Development (Rapid).

Urn with burning joss stick

 

As Chua arrived at the Twin Towers with other walkers and several DAP leaders, several Petronas staff also voluntarily led them to their office.

 

Earlier, Chua ( right in picture ) was spotted holding an urn with a burning joss stick while walking, which he claimed symbolised the will of Pengerang ancestors to protect the cemetery.

 

However, he was not allowed to enter the Petronas office premises with the urn, as auxiliary policemen said it would trigger the fire alarm system.

 

At a press conference later, Chua explained the walking protest because Pengerang residents had reached a “helpless” stage after going to various channels to express their views in the past two years.

 

“We talked to the government but it has just ignored us. Till today, we can only talk to the investor, which is Petronas,” he said.

 

Hoping Petronas would make a decision after receiving the memorandum today, Chua said Petronas should not destroy the cemetery due to its hundred-year history.

 

Asked about his next step, Chua said his 12-day walking protest ended today and he would be returning to his home to rest before planning new strategies.

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