Since last August, the taps in an estate in Kajang have run dry forcing its residents to bathe with murky water from a nearby reservoir and quench their thirst on the kindness of others.

Relating their ordeal, M Pedari, 61, said they are forced to use the water from the reservoir which is 'unhygienic and exposed'.

For dinking water, the grandmother of six said they have to depend on family and friends who donate mineral water bottles.

On other occasions, the former estate worker said she has to walk to a nearby residential area to obtain drinking water from residents there.

This is how life has been for about 100 families in the Bukit Raja estate since their water supply was cut off by Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd (Syabas).

They claimed that the supply was cut off upon the urging of a plantation company that wants to evict the families.

In addition to this, the residents claimed that Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) had removed their electricity meters forcing the residents to use generators and other means to light up their homes.

"We want our water and electricity supply back. We want the houses they promised us," said Pedari when met during a protest outside Menara Tun Razak in Kuala Lumpur today which houses the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam).

'Suhakam head must resign'

However, Pedari and 70 other residents did not come to the commission for help. Instead, they demanded the resignation of Suhakam chairperson Abu Talib Othman.

This is because Abu Talib is a director of Sime UEP Sdn Bhd which owns Prominent Acres Sdn Bhd - the company which is allegedly trying to evict the residents.

Until 1999, the residents were employed by Prominent Acres to work on the rubber and oil palm estates.

As part of an agreement to terminate their employment, the residents claimed that they were offered low-cost terrace houses. What was ultimately offered were low-cost flats and the residents rejected this.

"We feel cheated. When our energy is no longer needed (by the plantation company), we are kicked out," said Bukit Raja action committee chairperson L Gnana Sekaran.

In 2005, Prominent Acres filed two summonses with the Shah Alam sessions court to evict the families.

However, the residents said this was illegal as the case concerning the terms of their employment termination is still pending in court.

"We have lived in the estate all our lives. We don't want to move out and this is all we know," said Pedari's daughter, M Alagamah, 41, who lives with her mother.

Alagamah, who works a salesperson, also accused the company of hiring 'gangsters' to intimidate the residents.

Last Tuesday, she said some 50 men had come to the estate with bulldozers and tore down about 20 abandoned houses in the area.

"But they will not win. We will stand our ground and get what was promised to us," she stressed.

Conflict of interest

Last September, the residents had turned to Suhakam but were told that their case will not be investigated.

Commenting on this, Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) vice-president Sivarasa Rasiah said this involves a conflict of interest.

"It is not possible for the commission to act independently and without bias, as long as a director of Sime UEP also serves as its chairperson," added the opposition leader who was also present at the protest.

The disgruntled residents had turned to PKR after exhausting all other avenues.

During the 30-minute protest, residents brandished placards calling on Abu Talib to resign and denouncing Syabas for cutting their water supply.

They also handed a memorandum on the matter to Suhakam commissioner Khalid Ibrahim.

Abu Talib and Prominent Acres officials could not be reached for comment.

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