Squatters at Kampung Desa Hormat in Sungai Way, Selangor, who refuse to move to a temporary settlement in Lembah Subang some 15km away claim that the developer of their present land had agreed to repair nearby long houses for them.
Resident Zaisham Shah Bahri, 30, told malaysiakini today that Mentari Properties Sdn Bhd had agreed to repair the long houses after their plight were brought to the attention of Selangor Menteri Besar Dr Mohd Khir Toyo two weeks ago.
The MB also promised that he will hold a meeting with the Petaling Jaya municipal council (MPPJ) and the developer, he said, adding the squatters had refused to shift as they would incur a higher cost of living in Lembah Subang.
Immediately following the meeting, the developer had visited the squatters at Desa Hormat and was shown the long houses which the squatters had requested they be placed in, revealed Zaisham who is deputy chairperson for the Desa Hormat Residents Action Committee.
He explained that although the developer did not make any promises, the squatters placed hope on the developers undertaking that it would repair the long houses for them as the developers representative said he had come to solve the matter under the MBs order.
Zaisham said he understands the developer was currently looking for a contractor to assume the job and work on the long houses would start after Chinese New Year festive season.
The developer has asked for our details including names, IC numbers and our MPPJ survey unit numbers, he said, adding that the squatters have yet to provide all the required details.
Last weekend, the squatters held a food sale, selling lemang and rendang , at their squatter site to raise money to support themselves.
Good deal
Twenty-seven families lost their homes at Kampung Desa Hormat when their houses were demolished by the MPPJ on Feb 7. The squatters were occupying state land.
Some have since moved to Lembah Subang but 12 families are staying put at Desa Hormat. Five families are living in makeshift tents at the area while the others are staying with relatives.
Meanwhile, a spokesperson of Mentari Properties Sdn Bhd claimed that eviction was the best solution for the squatters.
The spokesperson, who declined to be named, explained that they (the squatters) would get a good deal by relocating to Lembah Subang as Mentari had agreed to pay for their monthly rentals.
They would also be allocated low-cost flats at Kampung Lindungan priced at RM35,000. We are applying for them to get a 100 percent loan arrangement, he said.
The source, however, claimed that the squatters were supporters of opposition parties.
While PAS and Keadilan flags are visible at Desa Hormat as in many other squatter settlements in the Klang Valley, Zaisham, when asked, denied the squatters were influenced by opposition political parties.
This is not a political issue. This is a humanity issue, he said.
The Desa Hormat squatters have cited the lack of amenities at Lembah Subang, particularly public transportation, as the reason for their refusal to move there, even temporarily.
They claim that relocating to Lembah Subang would increase their monthly expenditure by about RM400 a month.
