DAP will meet Petaling Jaya Municipal Council (MPPJ) top officials to discuss the plight of the residents in Kampung Penaga in Petaling Jaya, Selangor, who will be relocated to a temporary squatter settlement.

DAP national publicity secretary Ronnie Liu told malaysiakini today that he had arranged to meet with MPPJ president Emran Kadir on Monday to discuss the residents' woes.

He added the opposition party is also trying to get an appointment with Selangor Mentri Besar Dr Mohd Khir Toyo and Kelana Jaya state assemblyperson Mokhtar Dahlan who is also the Selangor executive councillor for local government, housing and squatters.

The residents of Kampung Penaga have been told by MPPJ to relocate and accept the offer to buy low-cost flats at the price of RM35,000 each from developer TD Management Sdn Bhd.

The flats, due to be completed in two years, are also located in Kampung Penaga. In the meantime, the residents are requested to relocate to Lembah Subang which is situated 15km away.

The developer has agreed to pay the monthly rental for the residents in Lembah Subang until their homes are ready.

Not consulted

The residents are also offered a compensation of RM1,000 for each family. However, it is learnt that the developer will deduct RM596 to pay for the two-month rental deposit and maintenance fee in Lembah Subang.

But the residents are now crying foul as they claimed they were never consulted over the matter. They were also disappointed that the developer did not discuss the issue with their welfare association which was set up to represent them.

Instead, the developer met with an Umno development bureau, appointed by the MPPJ and Mokhtar, to represent the residents.

The residents also claimed that MPPJ officials had threaten to demolish their houses and bring the matter to court if they refuse to cooperate.

On the latest development, Liu said the residents had received a letter from the developer to sign an agreement accepting the offer by July 24.

On Wednesday, Kampung Penaga residents had submitted a memorandum to the developer demanding better compensation.

Subsidy for children

However, Liu said the developer had yet to respond to the residents' request although they had promised to hold a discussion with them within two days.

"But up till today, TD Management has not set up a meeting with the residents yet. We are very disappointed," he said.

Among others, Kampung Penaga residents had urged the developer not to deduct their compensation and pay RM50 to each school-going child as subsidy for their transportation to school.

Many children in the village are attending school near their home. When their families are relocated to Lembah Subang, they will need to find transport to school.

"Who is going to pay for the bus fare? This is a low-income group. Some have as many as five school-going children," Liu said.

He added that if the developer is not willing to pay pay the bus fare, they could at least arrange for a bus to ferry the children to school.

"We are not asking for the moon. This is very basic thing," Liu said.

Malaysiakini was informed later that villagers met with TD Management project manager, Kenneth Ng, this afternoon.

However, according to villagers, the meeting failed to resolve anything.

TD Management could not be reached for comment.