For the first time in five years, the 91 families who reside at Jalan Kidurong, Bintulu can now sleep in peace - at least for now -  after a develpoer failed in its bid to obtain a summary order to evict them from the site they have lived on for the past 35 years.

Yesterday, the Bintulu High Court refused to grant the summary eviction order to Menawan Megah Sdn Bhd and instead ordered the matter to go to trial.

According to families' counsel Wong King Wei, the families' sleepless nights began when the government alienated 80.90 hectares of the land situated at Jalan Kidurong, Bintulu to Menawan Megah Sdn Bhd in 2010.

The company then filed for a summary procedure under Order 89 Rules of court 2012 seeking an eviction order for all the occupants of the land.

The villagers sought the assistance of DAP Bintulu which in turn appointed Wong ( pix ), who is also the Padungan state assemblyperson, to represent the 91 families on a pro bono basis.

Wong said the families were not squatters as they stayed on the land with the consent of the previous owner of the land, that is, the Sarawak government. Thus, they could not be simply evicted.

First battle won

Wong said that most of the occupants on the land have been staying there for at least few decades since early 1980s when the LNG plant there was set-up.

He pointed out that many of them built houses on the site after they moved in from their respective inland villages to be employed by the LNG plant.

Wong said he had argued the eviction order could not be granted summarily when the defendants could prove that there was consent by the state government to occupy the land.

On today's ruling, Wong said Justice Lee Heng Cheong agreed with his submission and decided not to grant eviction order in favour of the plaintiff but ordered the case to go for Writ action which required determination by trial.

Expressing his happiness with the decision, he said the 91 families have won their first battle against the company adding that he always believed the courts should be the ‘ultimate protector’ of the people's rights.