About 70 former estate workers today filed a lawsuit against the Selangor state government for allegedly failing to help them get housing and land despite promising to do so earlier.

Represented by Charles Hector, the ex-workers from Ladang Bukit Tinggi, Ladang Bukit Jelutong Rasak and Ladang Sungai Rinching filed the suit at the Shah Alam High Court.

Speaking on behalf of the workers, social activist S Arutchelvan described the legal action as "historic".

"This is the first time the workers are taking the state government to court," he said when met at the courthouse.

Named in the suit were Selangor Menteri Besar Dr Mohd Khir Toyo, state property registrar, state town and rural planning committee and the municipal councils of Shah Alam, Kajang and Klang.

Legal precedent

Airing their grouses, Arutchelvan claimed the state government had failed to adhere to its policy introduced in August 1991 to help estate workers by using its powers to seize the land of estate managements which fail to provide adequate housing for their workers.

He said the state government also said it would not approve development plans in estates that do not provide housing schemes for their employees, yet it did not live up to this promise as well.

"Today is the first time we challenge the state government on why it did not implement its promises," said the activist.

Arutchelvan added that the workers are also seeking an injunction to stop the projects which are currently carried out at their respective estates from proceeding until the court case is concluded.

When asked whether the legal action was merely academic, Hector stressed that his clients were serious about the matter.

"The government had allowed for conversion of land (for the new development projects) without consideration for its 1991 policy, thus breaching its social contract with the workers," he said.

The lawyer said the case will determine the effect of government policies, statements and assurances which had not gone through the scrutiny of the legislative.