State and local authorities in Selangor are keeping mum on when exactly they will demolish Kampung Saujana at Batu Tiga, Shah Alam.

They said the demolition of the settlement was long overdue and that the state government would march on towards its goal of having 'zero squatter settlements'.

State executive councillor for housing, local government and squatter settlements Mohd Mokhtar Ahmad Dahlan said today the exco had met yesterday morning and resolved that the demolition proceeds.

"We decided that Kampung Saujana will be demolished just as the other squatter settlements in Selangor will be demolished," he said.

"But as far as the date of the demolition is concerned, that's up to the (Shah Alam City Hall) MBSA," he added.

When contacted, an official at MBSA's planning department, however, said the local council would not reveal the date of the demolition and that Kg Saujana residents had been given ample time to take advantage of the re-location terms offered.

"It should have been demolished already. It can be demolished anytime. We will not say when, because the numerous notices we've issued are already 'overcooked'," said the official, who requested anonymity.

"When there's too much discussion and too many people interfering in the kitchen, things get difficult and the state government cannot carry out what it seeks to do," he said further, referring to Selangor's goal of making the state 'squatter-free' by end 2005.

Appeals sidestepped

Kg Saujana's Action Committee secretary M Partheeban (left) said residents were perplexed as to the reasons behind the authorities apparent haste in evicting them.

"We just need three more months for the loans as well as the sales and purchase agreements to be inked and for our low-cost flats at Sunway Kayangan (Section U2) to be completed. Why the hurry?" he said when met in Kuala Lumpur recently.

Action Committee chairperson M Sambasivam (right) noted the efforts of Housing and Local Government Ministry Enforcement and Monitoring Department Director G Parameswaran as well as the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) to delay the demolition.

"When we met Paramewsaran and Suhakam commissioner N Siva Subramaniam on Sept16, they both faxed letters to Mokhtar requesting for more time. But both these people seem to have been ignored," said Sambasivam.

On Sept 7, MBSA demolished several houses belonging to residents of Kg Saujana. In the ensuing melee with the police, 17 residents were arrested. They were later released.