Residents of Kampung Puah Seberang, Sentul are resorting to tapping water and electricity illegally, after their houses were demolished to make way for a highway project.

Resembling scenes of a tsunami-torn area, the once thriving village now hosts a handful of makeshift tents made from scraps of wood, canvas and other materials left behind by Kuala Lumpur City Hall officials after the demolition on May 31.

"We are living like refugees on our own land," said Ahmad Daud Mohd Ali ( right ), who spoke as a representive of families from 40 houses that was torn down.

"Soon after the demolitions, a storm struck and many of our properties, books, electrical equipment were destroyed," said Daud, adding that some children cannot attend school because their uniforms and books were also destroyed.

Staying put

Like the 50 families in the area, Daud was supposed to receive RM8,000 and a rights to buy a low-cost flats in compensation for the takeover. He claimed that he had documented proof, but to date, he had received nothing.

Following this, the 46-year-old father of three claimed that he and other villagers had approached politicians, City Hall, the Anti-Corruption Agency and even sent a letter to the prime minister but to no avail.

Nonetheless, those camping out where their former houses once stood plan to stay put.

"Even if we have to live on a raft on a river or we have to live under a bridge, we won't budge. We'll stay here until we die," said Daud, a motivational speaker who have been living in the area for the past 11-years, but now living out in the open with his family for the past one month.

The village, which sits on Malay reserve land, is approximately 10km north from Kuala Lumpur and was cleared to make way for the construction of the Damansara-Ulu Kelang Expressway.

Aggressive zero-squatter policy

Eventually, the residents turned to sole Parti Keadilan Rakyat parliamentarian Dr Wan Azizah Ismail for help.

She visited the area yesterday to hand out foodstuff and pledge her support for their struggle.

Azizah said that she was saddened that innocent people could be oppressed in the name of development.

Accompanying Azizah was PKR information chief Tian Chua, who lamented that the affected families were the victims of aggressive zero-squatters policy, which did not take into the account the needs of the less fortunate.