Works Minister S Samy Vellu today personally assured the Petaling Jaya Selatan squatters who are affected by construction of the New Pantai Expressway that the highway developer will pay the rental of their temporary settlement until their low-cost houses are ready.

"[NPE Sdn Bhd] will pay for the rental of these houses up to 18 months. If the low-cost houses are ready after 18 months, they (the resettled squatters) can move to their new houses," Samy said.

"But if it is delayed, the concession company will still pay for their rental until the houses are ready," he added.

The rent for each flat is RM124 per month.

The minister was speaking to reporters after meeting the Kampung Medan Luar Resettlement Action Committee members who represented the squatters, Seputeh MP Teresa Kok, Subang MP KS Nijhar and Petaling Jaya Selatan MP Donald Lim at his office in Kuala Lumpur today.

Also present at the meeting were Petaling Jaya Municipal Council (MPPJ) chairperson Emran Kadir and Malaysian Highway Authority (LLM) acting director Dr Ghazali Mohd Nor.

Samy also announced that affected families will be relocated to a temporary resettlement area in Lembah Subang and that the developer's compensation offer of RM1,000 stays.

The affected squatter areas in Kampung Medan Luar, Kampung Medan Harun Indah and Kampung Gandhi have around 210 houses.

Demolition order revoked

Meanwhile, the 32 households which were left out from the list of those eligible for compensation will receive RM2,000 each and can apply for the low-cost houses which will be built by Syarikat Perumahan Negara (SPN), added the minister.

It is learnt that the squatters would have to apply for a loan and purchase the houses from SPN at the old squatter area near Kampung Medan Luar at about RM42,000 which is half from the original price of RM76,000.

The 32 houses were left out because they were not included in the surveys conducted by the previous concession company, Mextro, in 1997 and the Petaling Jaya Municipal Council (MPPJ) this year.

Samy also said that the MPPJ order to demolish the squatter houses in the areas which were supposed to be carried out today will be revoked.

"However, we are requesting the squatters to move to their new houses (in the resettlement area) before Nov 10 (this year)," he said.

In July, the squatters were told that they would be given only 18 months of rental plus RM1,000 for compensation while the 32 families which were left out from the list would not be compensated.

Last year, the squatters were given three compensation options, each of which amounted to RM12,000. But these compensation packages were reverted after the original developer of the NPE abandoned the project.

The project is now handled by NPE Sdn Bhd which is owned by Road Builders Bhd.

Compensation for businesses

Samy also announced that the 21 businessmen who operate in the affected area would also be given some nominal compensation.

The minister said that he would hold a meeting with those affected in two days to discuss the matter.

The squatters had earlier demanded RM15,000 compensation for the businesses which are affected in the area.

Asked to comment about the compensation promised by the minister, the action committee head, Misfan Tumiran said although the committee is still not fully satisfied with it, they conceded that this is the best offer given to them.