About 100 Petaling Jaya Selatan residents registered their housing woes at the Housing and Local Government ministry in Kuala Lumpur today.

The residents, who came from Kampung Muniandy, Rumah Panjang and Petaling Tin, wanted desperately to meet with deputy minister M Kayveas but was welcomed instead by the ministry's deputy secretary-general Rosli Ibrahim.

Accompanied by lawyer P Utahayakumar, they met Rosli for two hours after gathering peacefully for about 15 minutes with their banners and placards urging the ministry to help them, at the ministry's entrance.

Responding to reporters after the meeting which ended at 12.30pm, Rosli said he had received the memorandum from the residents on behalf of minister Ong Ka Ting.

"I will look into the matter. So far, I have only heard one side of the story. I will have to check with the other side," he said, declining further comment.

During the meeting, the residents claimed that the developer from whom they bought low-cost apartments had acted in violation of standard local authorities' rules and regulations.

The land of these house owners, who formerly lived in Kampung Muniandy, off Jalan Klang Lama, was taken up for development in 1999, affecting 645 households.

They were promised low-cost apartments, costing between RM25,000 and RM35,000 each as part of their relocation programme.

Apartment price up

But the Residents' Committee representative M Thilagam claimed that the developer had increased the price of the apartment to RM42,000 and had also sold the apartments to outsiders.

"Potential buyers who disagreed with the price were forced to sign the sale and purchase agreement," she said.

Of the 645 households, 55 refused to sign the agreement. They are waiting for the low-cost houses promised to them by the state after the PJ Selatan racial clashes in March last year, which claimed six lives and left scores of people injured.

The remaining 590 households who purchased the apartments are now living in two blocks Block C and D, but the residents claimed that the apartments lack social amenities and facilities.

Another residents' representative M Muniama lamented that there were no playground, letter boxes, recreational facilities, telephone lines, fencing and community hall.

"What is more shocking is the exorbitant RM60 maintenance fee for the apartment which lacks basic amenities," she said.

One of the blocks which has 315 units of apartments, shops and offices has only two elevators, which break down frequently, she said.

Why the discrimination?

Whereas, another apartment block with only 160 units of apartments, built by another developer, has also two elevators.

"Why the discrimination? Is it because we are poor people," asked Uthayakumar, who cut in to express his views.

Uthayakumar then showed a copy of a circular from the Selangor State Secretariate dated Nov 12, 1999, issued to all local authorities, including the residents' representative.

The circular clearly informed the local authorities and state government agencies that the apartment units were to be sold between RM25,000 and RM35,000 and reserved for the affected residents.

Meanwhile, Uthayakumar said the residents are seeking another meeting with all state authorities inncluding member of parliament Donald Lim, state assembly representative Norkhaila Lias, on Sept 28.

"If we do not get any response by then, we will be forced to come here again to voice our grievances," he said.

"Some of the residents are also now living in fear and they are asking for a letter of undertaking not to demolish their houses in view of development around the area until their problems are settled," he added.