Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) hopes that human rights will not be demolished in the process of realising the government's aim of making Kuala Lumpur and Selangor 'squatter-free' by next year.

Its deputy president Dr Syed Husin Ali said the government should not resort to 'inhuman' tactics.

He was responding to Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's announcement on Tuesday after a cabinet committee meet on squatters that the city will be rid of them by 2005 .

"This would be easier said than done (but) of course squatter homes can be inhumanly demolished through forced eviction by the use of unjust laws, soulless enforcement officers and destructive tractors," said the opposition leader in a statement.

Syed Husin warned that those forced to be homeless may and often resort to opening new settlements and perpetuate the squatter problem.

"We must remember that housing is a basic human right and that the interests and welfare of squatters must be protected.

"The government needs to handle with care the squatter problem in Kuala Lumpur and the rest of the country , bearing in mind the rights and welfare of the squatters, the majority of whom are from low income groups," he said.

Three points

The veteran politician said there are three things the government must ensure when conducting this campaign.

He said firstly the government must ensure that forced eviction is not carried out while ample notice and alternative land or housing are provided before demolition works begin.

Secondly, he said the government must make serious attempts at building an adequate amount of low cost houses while allocating it to "deserving squatters" and other low income earners.

"Not to those who can afford to buy or rent houses merely because of their political or social connections and have never been squatters," he added.

Lastly, he insisted that adequate compensation be given to those whose houses are demolished but are not given alternative land or housing.

"Squatters not provided with alternative land or housing should be helped by the authorities with very soft loan facilities to enable them to purchase land or houses of their own," he added.

The government has announced that they will not be able to guarantee public housing for new squatters in the city as they were short of 552 units but could compensate for it in Selangor.

However, Najib said the cabinet committee's jurisdiction was only on Malaysian squatters and not illegal immigrants.

"As far as Malaysian squatters are concerned we can meet the target (of zero squatters)," he added.