One-hundred and thirty squatters in Sungai Siput want Menteri Besar Zambry Abdul Kadir to deliver on land titles allegedly promised to them by Barisan Nasional in the last three general elections.

The squatters of Kawasan Belakang Sekolah Shing Chung in the heart of Sungei Siput have been residing on state land for between 20 and 60 years.

NONE They are demanding for either the land titles promised to them, or be provided with alternative sites.

Squatters village committee chairperson S Arumugam ( right ), 52, said former Sungai Siput MP Samy Vellu first promised them a lot each, measuring 50x80 feet, in 2000 if BN was returned to power in Sungai Siput.

The second time around, during the run-up to the 2004 General Election, it was Gerakan's Jalong assemblyperson Chang Ko Youn who made the promise.

Chang repeated the promise just prior to the March 2008 election. However, Sungai Siput voters opted for the opposition.

PSM championing squatters' rights

In 1999, the squatters sent an appeal letter to the then Menteri Besar Tajol Rosli Ghazali on BN's promises of state land.

Nothing materialised, and in desperation the squatters turned to Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) to champion their cause.

NONE PSM state coordinator M Sugumaran ( left ) helped draft a letter to Zambry and about 15 squatters attempted hand the letter to the MB today but were prevented by security.

The squatters were asked to hand over the letter to the security personnel and leave but they insisted on handing it to Zambry personally.

Five of the residents, including Sugumaran, were allowed to go to the second floor of Zambry's office. An official promised to hand over the letter on Monday to Zambry.