A police report has been lodged against an MIC Selangor state executive councillor today for giving a 'false' account on the number of houses needed by estate workers in Kajang at a meeting with a housing developer.

About 30 former workers of Breamer Estate Kajang lodged the report against K Sivalingam, who is Selangor state estate and mining workers housing committee chairperson, at the Dang Wangi police station in Kuala Lumpur.

Breamer estate committee chairperson Ganeson Danapal told malaysiakini that the written report by Sivalingam at a meeting with the Sungai Gantang housing developer on May 23 stated that 38 families from the estate needed low-cost houses.

However, according to Ganeson, only 14 families are seeking to obtain the houses.

"The list given to the Sungai Gantang developer is wrong. Sivalingam and MIC representatives had a meeting with them recently and did not include representatives from the estates," said Ganeson.

They urged the police to investigate why Sivalingam gave a much higher figure than the actual number of houses demanded by the displaced estate workers.

Since 1993, Breamer estate workers have been tussling with their employers over housing rights. They were promised housing as compensation when they had to be evicted as the estate was to be developed into a golf course. The case is still pending in court.

Ganeson said Sivalingam did not want to entertain the estate workers, and instead had meetings at his office with MIC representatives who do not represent them.

Ganeson said the estate workers had decided to lodge a report because they felt they were not fairly treated. He added that Kajang police investigating officer Ahmad Lofti is handling the case.

Quantum too low

In February, MIC asked the government to increase the quantum of loans given to the estate workers, so as to enable them to purchase houses.

MIC president S Samy Vellu said the quantum of RM7,500, given out now under the poor people's housing scheme was not sufficient and that the amount should be increase to RM20,000.

According to Samy, he had raised the matter at the weekly cabinet meetings.

He was told that Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad had directed Housing and Local Government Minister Ong Ka Ting to study the matter and submit a report to the cabinet.

Samy had also asked for low-interest loans to be provided for estate workers as they are finding it increasingly difficult to secure housing loans.

He said the MIC had resolved housing problems for 4,500 workers in 50 estates and plantations in Selangor and is now focusing on the remaining 10 estates in the state.

The estates are Ladang Kapar Baru, Ladang Bukit Beruntung, Ladang Kalumpang, Ladang Banting, Ladang Bukit Hitam, Ladang Midlands, Ladang Breamer, Ladang Sungai Rinching, Ladang Kajang and Ladang Bangi.

Sivalingam, who is also an MIC central working committee member, was not available for comment.