Former workers of Bukit Rajah estate and Bukit Rajah Oil Mill estate in Klang, Selangor feel that they've been shortchanged by their one-time employer Prominent Acres Sdn Bhd and the union that was supposed to protect their interests, the National Union of Plantation Workers (NUPW).

These two estates were part of five estates ear-marked for property development and following that Prominent Acres entered into negotiations with their employees in 1995 to seek their voluntary eviction.

Under the agreement, the workers were to be retrenched with benefits and as part of the negotiations, they were given a choice take the money and 'run' or use the money as deposit for the low cost houses to be built at the Jalan Acob Estate in Klang which Prominent Acres will assist in securing.

The cost of the houses were in accordance to Selangor state government guidelines on low cost homes and in addition they were given further discounts on the houses.

Negotiating and signing on the behalf of the workers was their union NUPW and on June 26, 1998 a memorandum was signed between the Prominent Acres and NUPW.

Eight years down the road however, the workers came in for a shock. Instead of low-cost terraced houses, they were given flats.

Some took the flats, while others stood their ground and refused to move. They took their grievances to the courts and are awaiting judgment.

Water supply cut

According to the workers, NUPW which represented them failed to explain the details of the memorandum to them and feel that they have been misled by their union.

In the meantime, the 100 affected families continued to live at the estate, but in November this year, Prominent Acres requested that Syarikat Bekalan Ayer Selangor Sdn Bhd to cut water supplies to their quarters.

In response, the families submitted a memorandum to the company and the Malaysian Human Rights Commission (Suhakam), claiming that their rights have been eroded and that the company had acted irresponsibly and inhumanely in cutting the water supply.

The action also contravened clause 6 of the June 1998 memorandum which guaranteed that they can continue living in the quarters until housing for them was completed.

Malaysiakini.tv met with some of the affected people to hear their story and also spoke to Parti Sosialis Malaysia's V Selvam who has been helping them present their woes to those who might be able to help solve their predicament.

We also spoke to V Taamasegaran, the Selangor branch secretary of NUPW for their version of the story.

Watch 10-minute

video clip here

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