Despite 43 years of political independence and having the benefit of deluge of research findings on the plight of squatters throughout the country, the government through its various arms continues to be harsh, inhumane and cruel to millions of squatters in the country.

Frequent reports in the media bear a testimony to how overzealous government officials continue to chase and hound families who have lived in an area for years without the benefit of a legal entitlement.

But there are also reports and information that tell of numerous stories of how government officials, agencies and others continue to provide yeoman service to the rich capitalists, housing developers, politicians and others.

Families, individuals and groups who have moved into areas in the vicinity of major cities as result of various forces of oppression and exploitation are seldom recognised and accepted as bona fide residents.

Those who have cleared jungles, rocks and other physical impediments so as to put up their dwellings face the prospect of expulsion if not arrest when their areas of residence are simply bought over without their knowledge.

Since the prospective developers and capitalists cannot force these residents to leave, they invariably turn to the agencies of the government to expel these residents.

Shunned, rejected

Soon, one hears stories of squatter dwellings suddenly burned to the ground, bulldozers and tractors arriving to demolish these residences, women and children having to put up a fight to safeguard their worldly possessions, men being arrested for illegal demonstrations and others.

In no time, with residents expelled to some corners, beautiful buildings spring up to cater for the rich and powerful.

The above is a typical scenario of the existence for thousands of squatters in the county. Malaysians of all ethnic origins, forced to become squatters due to economic and social factors, are shunned and rejected by the government.

They have nowhere to go, merely counting the days when bulldozers and armed police units will arrive to flush them out from places where they have lived for many years.

Many squatters have been expelled, those who resist are simply arrested and thrown behind bars as trouble-makers.

The Indian settlement in Batu Caves, Kuala Lumpur, is one such squatter area where families who have lived many years face the prospect of being expelled.

In fact, they have been notified earlier this year that they should vacate their homes so that the developer who bought the land would be able to embark on a housing scheme.

About 33 families, 26 of them Indians and the rest Malays, who have lived in this area for many years, are now being told by our so-called responsible local government officials that they have to vacate their homes.

Alternative options

The Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC), the so-called Indian representative in the government, has basically abandoned their quest to convert the settlement into a permanent one. According to a spokesperson, the families have been disillusioned by the MIC and its representatives for failing to take up their problem.

All in all, residents in the area are fed up with the government. Chances are that they might consider alternative political options if the government fails to look into their grievances.

Presently, the 33 families are living on a four-acre plot of land. According to their spokespersons, they do not understand why the local government cannot sub-divide this plot of land among the families concerned.

In fact, this land was only purchased by the developer a few years ago, but information was kept away from the residents by the MIC and local government officials.

It is not that government cannot provide this plot of land for the families who have been living years for many years and have sufficiently invested in their houses.

But the overwhelming desire to act on behalf of the developer seems to be the main reason why the local government has been harsh and inhumane towards the residents.

Moreover, since the majority of the residents are Indians, there is not much political will on the part of government officials to resolve the problems of this particular community.

Political change

The Indian settlement in Batu Caves might be one example, but there are countless other examples throughout the country where squatters - Malays, Chinese and Indians - face perpetual problems with government officials.

Macro-government policy on solving problems of squatters is basically in shambles. The government, despite its propaganda of being people-orientated, is still very much an agency that acts and functions on behalf of the rich and powerful.

Thus, in the context of this power matrix, the poor and the unfortunate do not figure in any sense, but in the final analysis, there are victims to be thrown here and there.

Unless there is major political change in the country with a right ideology, the subaltern segment of the Malaysian population stands no chance to partake in mainstream progress.

The present government's artificial capitalism predicated on a racial ideology is hardly equipped to deal with social and economic problems faced mainly by the underclass.

P RAMASAMY is a professor of political economy at the Political Science Department, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia and has academic interests in Malaysian politics and labour. He has written quite extensively and is currently focusing on conflict management in Sri Lanka.