About 50 irate residents from a Jinjang Utara temporary housing settlement met with senior Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) officials after a o­ne-hour peaceful protest outside its headquarters over a broken promise for proper housing made two months ago.

At the end of the meeting, residents were asked to prepare a list of demands for another meeting o­n Monday, this time with the developer of a proposed low-cost housing project at the site where the longhouses are currently located.

Persatuan Masyarakat Selangor & Wilayah Persekutuan (Permas) president Tan Jo Hann said the residents were very hurt and disappointed by DBKL's about-turn after giving them hope by rushing them to apply for the units.

He said in October, the residents received notification from the developer asking them to move to the second longhouse as the present o­ne would be demolished soon.

"They were also offered low- and medium-cost units for RM42,000 and RM60,000 each to be completed within three years," he said when contacted today.

"Until today, the residents have written to them, held meetings, sent memorandums and even lodged police reports against the relevant authorities, including Housing and Local Government Minister o­ng Ka Ting (photo) to protest DBKL's treatment of them."

Shoddy treatment

Tan said in January, DBKL economic planning and social infrastructure director Salleh Yusup promised 63 families rented low-cost flats if they did not wish to move to a new longhouse.

"Instead, they were given the usual run-around and empty promises for months."

After a heated session o­n the about-turn, Tan said the residents insisted they did not want to move into the new longhouse because they objected to the "inhumane" treatment of having to put up with such living conditions as they had been for the past 10 years.

"If at all they have to move, DBKL and the developer should ensure that the quality of the second temporary housing is fit for human habitation and has a certificate of fitness," he said.

The residents were asked to compile a list of demands to improve the new longhouse by Monday for a meeting with the developer.

"Pending a solution, DBKL enforcement directorate director Zulkifli Ibrahim told residents that all orders for eviction or demolition would be suspended," added Tan.

During the protest, the residents gathered outside the building o­n Jalan Raja Laut carried posters reading "Salleh Tipu Rakyat" (Salleh cheats citizens), "Kita mahu flat bukan rumah panjang" (We want flats, not longhouses) and "Kita tidak mahu pindah lagi!" (We don't want to shift again!).

Gun-toting cops

Tan said there were about 70 DBKL enforcement officers and uniformed policemen, including numerous plainclothes officers from the Special Branch.

"Some of the uniformed policemen, led by Dang Wangi OCPD Hadi Ho Abdullah, carried sub-machine guns," he said, adding that police allowed the protest to continue provided residents did not shout any slogans.

He said DBKL's move to place the residents in a temporary housing settlement in Jinjang Utara came without any compensation and they were promised low-cost units at RM25,000 within five years.

"But they have been living in these longhouses for almost 10 years now, and they have not heard anything about the low-cost units until last January when another longhouse project was announced nearby."

The 50 who protested today were originally part of those relocated from Salak South, Chan Sow Lin, Sungai Besi, Batu Caves and Segambut to Jinjang Utara in 1993 to facilitate the laying of railway tracks, drainage and other infrastructure works in those areas.