The Perak government may dream of making the state squatter-free by 2012, but reality on the ground will determine otherwise, said Sungai Siput MP Dr D Jeyakumar.

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He argued that:

  • New families migrate from rural areas every year in search of a better life in urban areas.

  • The low wages paid to workers do not correspond with the high cost of living in urban areas, thereby necessitating ‘squatting’.

  • The construction of low-cost houses does not match the rate of new arrivals.

  • The influx of foreign workers has added to the squatter population.

“This cycle will continue unless the government is prepared to address the grievances of these urban settlers,” said a sceptical Jeyakumar, who is also a member of Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM).

PSM regards squatters as ‘urban settlers’ and has made it an objective to fight for their rights to a better quality of life.

Turning to his parliamentary constituency, Jeyakumar said there are four such settlements that need the attention of the state government.

Risk of eviction

Jeyakumar is now turning his attention to Kampung Banggali, where several generations of 51 families have lived for some 70 years.

“During the tenure of Barisan Nasional (BN) state government before March 8 last year, this village was earmarked for the establishment of either a hypermarket or department store,” he said.

“The Pakatan Rakyat government froze this development plan. Now with the re-entry of BN, the plan has been re-activated and the villagers again face the risk of eviction.”

Three other locations involve:

  • 130 families who have occupied ‘Kampung Belakang Sekolah Chin Chong’ for 70 years

  • 200 families in ‘Kampung Veerasamy’, situated on private land belonging to a millionaire

  • 200 families in ‘Kampung Kapar’, also situated on private land in Karai town

The resettlement of 43 ‘Kampung KTM’ families was recently resolved by the state government, after PSM raised the matter.