Angry residents of a settlement in Batu Caves have criticised the Selayang Municipal Council and the police for illegally attempting to demolish a multi purpose-hall built by the people.

V Subramaniam, chairperson of the Kampung Indian Settlement Action Committee (Kisac) which represents the residents, told reporters yesterday that any demolition should have been carried out by the land owner-cum-developer, Pembangunan Hasil Makmur Sdn Bhd.

He added the owner must have a court order and give a seven-day eviction notice before any demolition is done.

"When we came to the site [on June 3 as demolition started] we were not given any letters or notice about the demolition.

"The police have no right to do so and we do not understand why the Selayang Municipal Council president Bakaruddin Othman and the council have to get involved in this," said Subramaniam.

"When the developer was awarded the land, it had also agreed to build a new multi-purpose hall before the old one is torn down," he revealed.

He showed reporters a letter dated Dec 12, 2000 from the Selayang Municipal Council's Town Planning Department head Zolkeflee Abd Hamid who asked Hasil Makmur to build a new multi-purpose hall before tearing down the old one.

Subramaniam was accompanied by lawyers P Uthayakumar, Muthu Suppiah, S Bala Subramaniam and Murugan Rengan. Some 40 residents were also present at the press conference held at the hall.

Interim injunction

On June 14, Kisac filed an interim injunction with the Shah Alam High Court to stop any action to demolish the hall.

On Wednesday, one of their lawyers attempted in vain to apply for an extension of the injunction, which expired yesterday.

The lawyer was told that Kisac was not a registered society and the plaintiff would have to be individual members of the committee.

Two hours later, the authorities began to demolish the side portion of the hall but stopped after protests from residents. Only the main hall was left standing.

Subramaniam later lodged a report with the Selayang police station yesterday claiming that the police and the municipal council were conspiring with the developer to victimise the residents of the area.

He also alleged that the damages were in excess of RM100,000 and were caused by the police and council enforcers.

Meanwhile, resident K Kaniammah, 69, voiced her disappointment with the action by the authorities.

"My granddaughter has planned an engagement in this hall and now I don't know how it is going to go on," she said.

Another resident, R Marimuthu, 28, said he had been put in a quandary as the invitation he had sent out for his mother's birthday to be held at the hall would now have to be revoked.

"There is nowhere else as close or as cheap as this hall is to rent," Marimuthu said.

According to Subramaniam, the hall was built by local residents without the help of the government.

Housing project

Selayang Municipal Council president Bakaruddin Othman however brushed aside claims made by Subramaniam and the residents' action committee.

"They can say anything they want. The matter has already concluded in court and that means that I have to carry out my duties. I know what I am doing," Bakaruddin told malaysiakini yesterday at the council headquarters.

"Maybe they will file another affidavit to stop us again but we are the local authorities and any building that we do not find appropriate, we will demolish. Furthermore the land has been set aside for development," Bakaruddin said.

He added that this was in line with the government's decision to develop the area to get rid of the squatters.

Bakaruddin said a medium-cost housing project was already delayed six months due to the protest by residents.

"They have already set aside an area for a new hall to be built, so the hall has ceased to be an issue. Why do you have to defend it?" he asked.

When told of Subramaniam's claim that a new hall had to be built first before the old one could be demolished, he said: "That's what he claims."

He said the council would not be able to continue its work if the protests continue to render conditions unsafe.

"They placed people in the hall when the demolition was happening outside. We also have to think about safety," Bakaruddin said.