Angry and frustrated over unreasonable compensation, squatters affected by the proposed New Pantai Expressway are, however, moving to a resettlement area on an ultimatum served by the local authority.

Many may think that the decision to move by the Medan Harun Indah residents was made due to fear - the ultimatum has it that they must move out by Oct 24 - but a resident's representative told malaysiakini the reason was because they did not want to be seen as "anti-government".

The local Umno branch vice-chairman Mohd Ali Awang, 53, said the residents had been criticised as being not supportive of government development projects because of their resistance to move.

"But we support the government and we would never want to go against it," said Mohd Ali who is involved in an action committee which has been vocal in fighting for a reasonable compensation.

Matter of compensation

He added that the residents will continue to negotiate with the developer for a better compensation after they 'unwillingly' move into Lembah Subang flats, a resettlement for relocated squatters.

"I know we should get the compensation before moving, but what can we do?" said Mohd Ali who has been living there for more than two decades.

Last year, the residents were promised a compensation package worth RM11,000 plus rental for two years in the resettlement area and guaranteed new lost-cost houses which are currently under construction.

In July, they were told that they would be given 18 months of rental plus RM1,000 instead, of which some RM300 will be deducted for water and electricity deposits in their new temporary homes, leaving them with slightly more than RM700 as moving cost.

Complicated situation

The 19.6km new highway, meant to connect key spots in Klang Valley, started in 1997 and was due to be completed by 2003. The highway cuts across several squatter areas such as Medan Harun Indah, off Old Klang Road.

On Sept 24, the residents called for a media briefing to voice their grievances. It was attended by journalists, but the event was not published in the newspapers.

When contacted, an executive of the highway developer NPE Sdn Bhd said the "complicated situation" was a result of the change of ownership - NPE was formerly owned by Berjaya Group but has been sold to Road Builders Bhd this year.

"The RM11,000 was promised by the old management which has been replaced since the takeover," said the executive who declined to be named.

Mohd Ali said the residents were suspicious about a possible link between the developer and the local authorities.

"At a meeting with the Petaling Jaya Municipal Council and the developer, MPPJ president Emran Kadir said each family will receive RM500 but raised it to RM1,000 after our protest," he said.

"We hate to think that the developer is linked to the government but how could Emran increase the compensation just like that when he did not even consult with the developer?" he added.

Emran was quoted as saying in New Straits Times on Tuesday that an ultimatum had been given to the residents that they would have to choose between two options: move into the resettlement area or look for their own other housing alternatives.

Wants proper documents

The MPPJ president, who also said the relocation compensation will be paid by the Malaysian Highway Authority and not the developer, could not reached for comments.

Resident Suzirwan Abdul Ghani, 28, who grew up in the area said they have yet to receive any document stating clearly about the rental and guarantee of low-cost houses, adding that they were ready to move once they see "something in black and white".

No one should blame them for being cautious. Kamaruzzaman Shamsuddin, 41, said the absence of a proper document is intolerable, judging from their previous experiences.

"That is not too much to ask for. We have been given so many promises before and see what happened," said the local who started his family in Medan Harun Indah and now has three children.

"We do not have any other choice. The only person we can depend on now is our wakil rakyat (local representative)," said a helpless Kamaruzzaman, referring to the Taman Medan state assemblywoman Norkhaila Jamaluddin.

Once an area with about 200 families, Medan Harun Indah is now left with some 70 families.

Kamaruzzaman said most of the families moved out despite an unreasonable compensation and the coming fifth-form government school examinations SPM as they did not want to "prolong the situation or get into trouble with local authorities".

Worst case scenario

Most of the children in the area attend the primary and secondary schools which are within walking distance. After moving to the new resettlement area, the schoolchildren would have to travel by bus for at least an hour to their schools.

But this is not the worst case scenario.

For some reasons, 14 families who are less than 50 metres away from the area bound to be demolished had not been given any offer to move to the new resettlement area.

Their dilapidating houses will remain when bulldozers charge in to tear down the other houses nearby to construct the highway.

Zalina Awang, 30, a mother of four said she could not understand why the 14 families were left out.

"The area will be dusty and we have nowhere to go. My husband works in a zinc factory and we cannot even afford to fix the holes in our own zinc roof," she said.

Tinah Ahmad, 40, said she tried to ask for a relocation but her application was rejected because her house was not in the way of the highway plan.

"But why are they doing this to us? If they want to move the rest, why don't they take us along?" questioned Tinah.

Despite the treatment given to the squatter area, the residents stressed repeatedly that they do not resent the government.

And their predicament could best be summed up in what Suzirwan said: "We are not anti-development but we want it to be done fairly and appropriately."