Accusing the Selangor government of misplaced priorities by ignoring the poor and constructing luxury bungalows for its executive councillors, about 70 people held a protest outside the state government complex in Shah Alam today.

Led by the marginalised people's network Jaringan Rakyat Tertindas (Jerit), they carried banners and shouted slogans during the two-hour long protest.

There was a strong police presence, including those from the Light Strike Force who barricaded the access road outside the main gate, but no untoward incidents were reported.

Met at the scene, Jerit co-ordinator A Sivarajan said the state has got its priorities all wrong.

"People are here today representing many others who are angry and disappointed over the state's disregard of their rights to proper, comfortable and affordable housing.

"It is very frustrating to learn that the state had reportedly spent RM21 million on a luxury village for exco members when poor villagers and ex-workers have been waiting for houses since 1993."

He said money that was being spent on the rich and for those in power were public funds meant for public projects, including providing affordable public housing.

"The RM21 million is equivalent to 840 low-cost houses worth RM25,000 each. Instead, that money has been swallowed for the luxurious comfort of a mere 10 exco members."

People got fed-up

Responding to state executive councillor in charge of unity and plantation workers, K Sivalingam's claim earlier of a lack of response from the people, he said it was due to an incident in 2000 where the people were given similar assurances by the menteri besar himself.

"We don't want the 2000 incident to repeat itself. This is where the people were given the runaround and subsequently ignored after a meeting with the MB.

"The state official in charge, Mohd Nor Bador, had asked for a full report with a promise to visit

all the estates and villages. The people eventually got fed-up," Sivarajan explained.

"Till today, no one has fulfilled that promise despite having seen three different MBs with no results. A public relations stint by the MB does not go down well with the people... it shows insincerity."

He said the deadlock on pricing and types of housing is due to the different levels of acceptance between the state government and the people.

"What is reasonable to us seems too much for the state. We find such selfish attitude disgusting."

Referring to a Tamil Nesan report yesterday about the housing issue in Ladang Bukit Tinggi, Sivarajan commended Selangor Menteri Besar Dr Mohd Khir Toyo's directive to the developer to provide free housing for the remaining 37 families following a similar offer of free terrace houses to a group of 35 families previously.

"It demonstrates a political will on the MB's part. If he can issue a directive to this developer, he could also do the same in all the outstanding housing matters," he said in response to Sivalingam's claim earlier that squatters themselves were responsible for their housing woes.

To date, villagers and ex-workers from about 20 estates have submitted more than 30 memorandums to state officials since 1993, reporting only minor progress.

Squatters, ex-workers blamed

When met at the same venue, Sivalingam had laid the blame for the unresolved housing issues on a group of squatters and ex-plantation workers.

He said the parties have been deadlocked on the issues of pricing and the type of housing.

"The people are demanding for terrace houses whereas state policy is to offer only flats to squatters and former estate workers," he told reporters.

"We also need to review why people still haven't got houses yet. The state has given top priority to housing for squatters, so these problems can be resolved soon," he said.

He promised to invite representatives of the six villages for a meeting within the next two weeks but was unable to give a satisfactory reply to questions on why the people were still demanding for housing after 10 years.

"Groups seeking alternative housing are hampering progress in the allocation of housing by refusing to attend state meetings despite numerous invitations. The people have refused to do so," he said.

Sivalingam insisted that developers have been issued directives to prioritise ex-plantation workers and allocate flats.

"If a developer wants to give free houses or terraced ones, then it's up to them," he said, drawing the distinction between squatters and plantation workers with regards to Selangor's housing policy.

He said housing for squatters should be referred to Mokhtar Dahlan who is the state exco in charge of housing, building management and squatters.

"The last exco meeting decided to take action on the issue of housing. In fact, we have been advising the people to take up the offer but there are still a few families opposed to it.

"For instance, we cannot do anything once the matter goes to court," he added.