A demolition team from the Sarawak land and survey department rushed to bring down nine houses near the official residence of the head of state yesterday, before a court order could be served to prevent the action.

It is learnt that the land - located next to the Astana - has been acquired by the state government for the RM400 million state assembly building, to be constructed soon.

The 600-strong team, including enforcement and police personnel, arrived at 8am to evict the households in Kampung Astana Lama and to carry out the demolition.

Most of the male members had left for work by then, leaving only women and young children at home. The families had previously received several notices to vacate the buildings.

Lawyer See Chee How, who is representing them, said they are not squatters, but house owners who have document to prove their status.

See said they had obtained an injunction to prevent the department from taking any action until their cases are heard in court. However, this could not be served.

Department officers refused to respond to media queries.

Only rubble left

As the demolition started, tempers flared and verbal abuse was flung at enforcement personnel. However, the work continued and was completed by late afternoon.

When school-going children returned home, it was to find only rubble in place of what had been their houses.

Malaysiakini understands that there were originally 15 houses at the site, but that some owners had accepted compensation and moved out under the compulsory acquisition project.

Those who remained had disputed the terms of the compensation offer and engaged lawyers to argue their cases.

TONY THIEN is malaysiakini 's Sarawak-based stringer.