A village in Sungai Petani, Kedah, has been without electricity for about 60 years. Today, the matter was brought to the attention of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.

Alternative Action Team (AAT), a non-governmental organisation, representing the159 Kampung Sungai Getah II villagers, submitted a memorandum to Wan Azizah at the Parliament lobby. Copies of the memorandum was also given to Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang and other opposition MPs.

Speaking to reporters later, the PKR leader said it is a 'tragedy' that the village is still in darkness more than four decades after the nation achieved independence.

"There is no electricity supply in the village, but there is supply about 700m at the main road," she added.

Wan Azizah said since the area has been designated as a village, it should have electricity supply.

The PKR leader said she will forward the memorandum to Merbok MP Zainuddin Maidin, as the village falls under his constituency, and hoped that action will be taken.

MP aware of the matter

AAT representative Kalai Vanar said Zainuddin, who is also deputy information minister, is aware of the matter.

When he approached him outside the Dewan Rakyat, the parliamentarian said, "Yes, I know the background" and walked off.

"They have been living without electricity for more than 60 years!" Kalai told reporters, adding that the villagers have tried numerous ways to get electricity supply for their homes.

An application was sent to the Tenaga Nasional Bhd district engineer in June 1997 but there was no response. Following this, they sent a letter to then Kedah Mentri Besar Sanusi Junid in December the same year.

When this failed, a letter was sent to Works Minister S Samy Vellu on Dec 6,1998. Prior to this, in Sept 1998, the villagers had sent another letter to the mentri besar airing their grievance that no action had been taken.

Copies of all the letters were made available to malaysiakini .

According to Kalai Vanar, the land was bought over by a local MIC leader and his two associates in 1989 and there has been no agreement between them and the villagers to date.

Hefty service charges

In March 1998, a police report was lodged against the MIC leader for allegedly obstructing electricity supply to the village.

He was alleged to have asked the villagers to pay him RM40 per month each if they wanted electricity supply and this had to be backdated from 1960, bringing the total to RM200,000.

Kalai Vanar said the villagers cannot pay as they are rubber tappers who earn very little.

Besides electricity, Kg Sg Getah residents also do not have water supply and telephone services.