About 250 people displaced from two plantations in Shah Alam have appealed to Kumpulan Guthrie Berhad chairperson Musa Hitam to resolve their relocation issue amicably.

Advisor to the Ladang Bukit Jelutong Rasak residents committee, A Arutchelvan said the people wanted to meet Musa to proceed with negotiations over outstanding issues, including alternative housing, compensation and a pension fund.

He said the people were presently living in constant fear of their houses being demolished by a Guthrie subsidiary.

"We sincerely hope he (Musa, photo ) will keep his word to us about finding an amicable solution without violating our human rights," he said.

"As the former chairperson of the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia, we believe he understands our plight and concerns."

Default judgment

The demolition, said Aruthcelvan, is based on a default judgment obtained by the company, but the committee is seeking to set it aside at a hearing on Aug 7.

In early March, the residents submitted a memorandum to Musa, who was appointed as Guthrie chairperson last August.

The first negotiation with Musa was on April 7, followed by a second meeting with other Guthrie representatives on June 4.

"But we sensed some hostility at the second meeting and we are now worried because they issued a veiled threat about destroying the houses if work to build a road through the area is stopped."

Earlier today, the Court of Appeal rejected a stay application by the residents committee pending a hearing of an injunction against the company.

"The application for an injunction is pending in the Court of Appeal, which has yet to set a hearing date," Arutchelvan said.

"The company's lawyer had also repeated Guthrie's previous offer of alternative low-cost housing in a different location. But we told them that the people wanted written assurances on the offer."

Allegations

of abuse of power by the local council and police also abound ever since sporadic demolitions began in 2000.

Demolition plans

On Monday, a scheduled demolition with the assistance of the Shah Alam police and city council was abruptly cancelled at the eleventh hour.

"All the signs were there that Guthrie was going to come in strong. Reliable sources indicated that food had been catered for 200 people assisting in the eviction," said Arutchelvan.

"But when we heard that the food order was cancelled early that morning, we had a feeling that the demolition may be called off."

He believed this was due to the residents' vigilance and the police report lodged last Saturday.

"In fact, a big group of residents, rights activists and opposition members had also gathered to block the road leading into the area where 27 houses, a temple and a church are located."

Arutchelvan said Special Branch officers who arrived at the scene later claimed the order to halt the demolition was given by the deputy district police chief following the report.

Impartiality sought

In the police report against Guthrie Properties Development Holdings Sdn Bhd and Kumpulan Guthrie Berhad, the committee claimed there were intentions to demolish the houses without a valid court order.

It claimed the company was manipulating the police and the city council enforcement unit to assist in the illegal demolition.

The committee also claimed that the parties intended to demolish the temple and church, which could provoke tensions, and to demolish the houses amid negotiations as well as during an ongoing industrial dispute.

They wanted the police to be impartial in investigating the complaints without buckling to pressure from the influential property developer.

The protracted battle started in the late 1970s when the first relocation took place, to a spot where the Shah Alam stadium now stands.

Almost two decades later, the residents were asked to relocate to Ladang Subang due to development on the land they were occupying, but not all budged.

The remaining residents have called for urgent appeals to be sent to Musa and the state enforcement authorities demanding impartiality, non-interference by the police and the city council, and for conflict resolution through negotiation and the legal process.