Several former estate workers, including five women, have been on a hunger strike since Dec 27 to protest the Penang Development Corporation's (PDC) move to cut electricity supply to their homes in Ladang Batu Kawan more than a month ago.

Some 300 residents on the oil palm estate have been affected and are forced to use oil lamps since Dec 6. They have also been slapped with eviction notices.

Ladang Batu Kawan Workers Committee vice-chairperson Siva Perumal said today some 100 residents, mostly women and children, have been sleeping at a nearby Hindu temple which has electricity.

He said the 2,400-hectare estate was acquired by PDC, headed by Penang Chief Minister Dr Koh Tsu Koon, from Taiko Plantations Sdn Bhd in1992.

PDC then contracted the estate to another plantation company, which hired foreigners, leaving Siva and his colleagues in a lurch.

"We had no water or electricity problems and used to earn between RM700-RM1,000 a month under Taiko. However, after the change, many of us have ended up jobless," he said.

According to Siva, PDC issued an eviction notice to the residents on Dec 20, in order to pave the way for housing and other development projects.

In a desperate bid, the former estate workers resorted to a hunger strike.

"There are still six people striking today. Five women have been on strike since Dec 31. I myself began the strike four days before them, with two others, but stopped in between as I had a short job opportunity," said Siva.

He added that one of the strikers had also been hospitalised for two days but has since recovered.

Compensation promised

Meanwhile, grassroots support group, Kumpulan Kemajuan Masyarakat (KKM), said in a statement yesterday that PDC was being 'cruel' in depriving the residents of electricity and their school-going children the opportunity to revise their studies.

According to Siva and KKM, the workers were promised financial compensation, house grants, jobs, utilities supply and other facilities when PDC took over.

However, they claimed none of these have materialised.

"We have gotten nothing! Taiko gave us a little compensation but nothing from the PDC even though they said they would. They just want us to leave (the estate)," said an upset Siva.

KKM has also urged the chief minister to intervene and resolve the matter.

Its spokesperson Choo Chon Kai said the organisation hopes that concerned Malaysians will write to the chief minister urging him to promptly reconnect electricity supply to the area.

PDC officials could not be reached for comment as they were said to be in the estate negotiating with the workers committee.