Wahidah Salleh’s house is now reduced to a makeshift shed, with a piece of canvas acting as the roof and the floor put together from pieces of wood.                                                                    

The 72-year-old when met by Malaysiakini was cooking alone at a corner of the shed which is being used as a kitchen.                                                       

The grandmother of eight, who is fondly called ‘Opah’ (grandmother), cooked a simple dish of fried fish and stir-fried vegetables.

Outside, the deafening roar of the bulldozer clearing the land behind the shed breaks the silence.





It was the same bulldozer, last Tuesday, which destroyed the house she had lived in for the past 45 years as well as eight other houses in Kampung Chubadak Tambahan.

Heavy rain which has been occurring daily in Kuala Lumpur is also a source of worry for the elderly woman.

“The land is getting flattened; there are a lot of things here. I am afraid a snake will enter (the shed),” said Opah, looking at the devastation around her.

Opah vowed to continue to stay put in her shed until the 15-day period - pending the outcome of an application for compensation - lapses.

Her two grandchildren, Natasha Norman and Atikah Azmi, both 13, listened intently while Opah talked about how she began her new life with her husband Halim Hamid more than four decades ago.





The area which is about 10km from the city centre was cleared for housing shortly after the May 13 tragedy.                                

Opah said the house was bought by her husband, who supports the family as a taxi driver in the capital city.

It was on that land that she raised all her kids, said Opah, who is blessed with four children.

‘This land is meaningful, a week after I got married, my husband brought me here.

“I raised my children here until they became successful. So I have many memories here but today they have demolished my house.”

She had received a letter from the developer who gave some “flexibilities” to the residents to remain in the area until Nov 20.

“They gave us a choice; well I choose to stay here. It’s up to others if they want to move.

“I love this land. As long as I do not receive the necessary compensation, I will continue staying here,” she said.

Owners of eight other houses have moved after receiving letters of offer from the developer.

‘RM7,500 compensation offer unfair’





The Lenggong, Perak native is however disappointed with her compensation offered which she believes is unfair.

“I am puzzled - why did some receive compensation of RM70,000 or even RM80,000 but I was only offered RM7,500.

“It doesn’t make sense. Only when I am given proper compensation, only then I will move from here,” she said.

Although Opah is getting a new home, she laments how she would not be able to rear animals at the new place.

“If I have chickens I can slaughter them for food here. But I don’t think the people at the Batu Muda People’s Housing Programme (PPR) will like it if I bring along animals.

“Look, even my cat just gave birth last night,” she said.

Sending her message to the young protesters who had demonstrated in Sentul in support of Kg Chubadak villagers last Friday, the grandmother urged them to continue fighting.

“Do not lose hope. Age is but a number when we fight. I am 72 years old but I will not let anyone take advantage of me,” she said.