Islamic council told to stop eviction of 19 families in Butterworth

Parti Sosialis Malaysia has urged the Penang Islamic Affairs Council (MAIPP) to put a stop to the eviction of 19 families from the Tanah Wakaf Abdul Cauder in Butterworth.

R Karthiges, coordinator of Penang PSM's housing network, said the families have been informed that they will be "chased out" (usir keluar) tomorrow by MAIPP, who own the mixed development project.

"The families refuse to leave, as not all were offered free replacement homes, and five families were left out.

"The RM500 rental fees offered to the families (pending compensation) are not enough to rent a house around Butterworth," he said in a statement.

MAIPP offered 50 families on the 0.8ha land free replacement units (1,000 sq ft) upon completion of the apartment project, RM500 monthly rental fees to families to temporarily relocate, and relocation fees of RM4,000 and RM3,500 when they move into the new units.

As Karthiges noted, MAIPP should postpone the bailiff's notice for eviction – which it obtained on Jan 28 – until a proper agreement has been inked with the families.

"The families feel that there is a way to resolve the issue without any confrontation, because their request (for compensation) is not far from MAIPP's offer.

"We really hope that we can resolve the issue through negotiation. The residents are willing to compromise as they do not wish to disturb the important development project, which they described as good for the people and the state," he said.

"At first, almost all the families did not want to move out due to insufficient rental fees offered, but when they were threatened with court action, many gave up and surrendered their homes.

"Nineteen families continue to live there, and continued their fight to find a resolution to their plight," he added.

Left out of the deal

Affected families are asking that replacement units are also offered to the five families left out of the deal – extended family members of the original occupants, who MAIPP said do not qualify for the offer.

"They want transit homes for those who have yet to relocate, as this would save money and resolve their problems," Karthiges said.

"Or, an increase of the rental fees to RM700, as they cannot find homes with the offer of a monthly rent of RM500 around Butterworth. This offer should also be extended to those who have relocated.

"Inform the families about the actual development plans, including features of the houses which are offered. Make the offer in writing to every family, and the agreement should be signed with the Penang government and lawyers from PSM as witnesses."

'Cannot agree to demands'

When contacted, MAIPP president Abdul Malik Kassim said his team met with residents today, but that its board members decided that the families' demands cannot be met.

"We have negotiated the matter over eight years, and have spent close to RM3 million in legal fees to resolve the matter.

"We will go ahead with our plans, we will follow proper rules and law to obtain possession of our land," he told Malaysiakini.

Malik said that the state Wakaf, Zakat and Haji Department allocated RM50 million for the development project in 2010.

According to the plan, 470 low- and medium-cost apartment units are to be built on the plot.

Forty-six families are supposed to be relocated to the 22-storey building, while the remaining units are to be rented to low-income earners to generate revenue for the department.

Those affected include the 46 original occupants, three empty units, an Umno building, and five homes.

"Only 32 families accepted, while 14 households had refused MAIPP's offer in 2010," Malik added. 

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