Some 20 villagers from Kampung Sungai Terentang, Rawang, have submitted a complaint over the installation of high-tension electric cables and a transmission tower in their village to Parliamentary Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang.

The group, who handed Lim a letter of complaint in Parliament House today, said they have been forced to turn to the opposition because of a deadlock in their bid to negotiate with government authorities.

Their plight began in 2005 when Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) and the Gombak land office sent them notice to vacate their houses, to make way for installation of the infrastructure.

The villagers then formed a five-member action committee which met local elected representatives to resolve their problem. However, they were later told that nothing could be done as this is a "national project that involves public interest".

"The committee proposed an alternate route for the cables but unfortunately, the state government rejected this," said committee member Ong Tiong Huei.

"The route proposed is over vacant agricultural land but they don't want to consider it, citing several reasons like cost and time constraints."

He pointed out that the proposed route would not only benefit the villagers but TNB as well in the long run, should it want to upgrade the infrastructure "since this is an unoccupied land".

"We've been ordered to move several times, but villagers refuse to do so because they don't understand what is happening. The village already has two high-tension cables running through it."

Compensation offer

Another committee member, Ong Tiong Chin said TNB has offered a compensation plan, but that the villagers have rejected this.

"The plan does not state a definite sum, it only states that the villagers are entitled to an amount between RM31,000 and RM167,000," he said.

He also said the most recent notice instructed the villagers to attend a cheque presentation ceremony, where they are to receive compensation.

"This is wrong, we haven't been given any (final) eviction notice. Arranging a cheque presentation ceremony assumes that we will leave our homes."

The villagers, who are prepared for the worst, have set up a legal fund, in case they have to take the case to the court.