Malaysiakini,tv 's special Tamil video feature on the plight of former workers of the Bukit Rajah Estate and Bukit Rajah Oil Mill Estate continues

There are policies that lay out the conditions on retrenchment and housing for estate workers, but according to S Arutchelvan and V Selvam of Parti Sosialis Malaysia, policies are not laws.

"There is a policy that if plantation companies develop their land they must build housing for their workers first, but this is policy and policy means you don't have to follow them," said Arutchelvan.

NUPW seems to have washed its hands of the matter.

"NUPW represents workers while in employment. Once they are not in employment the relationship ends," said V Selvam.

V Taamasegaran NUPW's Selangor Branch Secretary denies this, but admits that legally their responsibilities to assist plantation workers ends when they are no longer members. They however continue to do so on humanitarian grounds he says.

For the 100 families affected by the closure of the two estates, in addition to taking legal action for the terms of the memorandum as they understood it to be implemented by the developer, they are also appealing on humanitarian grounds that water be restored to their quarters.

Click here to watch

12-minute video clip

.