A group of Kampung Puah Seberang residents went to Parliament today to submit a memorandum to Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) president Dr Wan Azizah Ismail.

The group, led by the kampung's action committee head Ahmad Daud, told Wan Azizah who is also MP for Permatang Pauh of their plight and sought her help.

According to Ahmad, the government had forced them to evacuate their homes located in Sentul, Kuala Lumpur without notice and without relocation advice.

The memorandum expresses the dissatisfaction of residents and claims mistreatment by the government. The residents are asking for an explanation and compensation.

It is learnt that the residents have to re-locate because of the Duta-Ulu Kelang Expressway (DUKE) project.

"We are not opposing the construction. We want the authorities to consult us properly and give us alternative housing. We are asking for our rights to a home and compensation for being subjected to such actions," he said.

Living in tents

Up to 65 people in 13 families currently live in makeshift camps.

"Houses have been destroyed without any discussion or warning. There were no relocation notices given and we are now forced to live in tents.

"People talk about tsunami in Aceh, what about us? We're living as though we suffered from the tsunami and this is happening in our own backyard," he said.

Ahmad claimed that Kuala Lumpur City Hall, Federal Territories Ministry and the highway authorities refuse to talk to them or answer any of their questions.

He has also written letters to Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi but to no avail.

"Pak Lah has visited our surau in the early1980s. He knows this kampung," Ahmad said.

Puah Seberang has been around since the 1940s. The residents in the area have been subjected to four separate incidents where they were made to leave their homes and not given remedy.

They include the building of the Karak Highway (1984-1989), housing development (1983-1987), project to widen Gombak River (2002) and now DUKE.