Residents of Kampung Berembang have filed an application to be joined as defendants in the suit taken against them by developer Perspektif Masa Sdn Bhd at the Shah Alam High Court today.

After 30 minutes in chambers, the residents' counsel Amer Hamzah held an impromptu press conference to explain the current legal situation to over 50 Kampung Berembang residents who turned up in court.

He told the residents and reporters that 69 names have been joined to the suit with reasons explained to judge Mariana Yahya.

"We have added actual names of defendants so that they have a right to answer to any allegation in the application by the plaintiff and they have the right to set aside any injunction.

"In principle, I do not think there should be a problem with this application because they shouldn't deny those who claim they are the rightful owners of the land to be named as party (to the suit)," he said.

In the original suit filed by Perspektif Masa, the defendant's were named as 'penghuni-penghuni yang tidak dikenali' (unknown occupants).

Legal standing

Amer explained that by inserting actual names, the residents in Kg Berembang would have legal standing in the suit.

"We decided to put the names of defendants (in the suit) so that they have a right to answer to any allegation in the application by the plaintiff and they have the right to set aside any injunction," he said.

The case will be postponed to July 30 to allow Perspektif Masa to respond to the residents' application.

In November 2002, the villagers were promised that they would be relocated to a nearby area under a housing project by the developer and were offered alternative housing in Puchong until completion of the project.

However, they were forcibly evicted three years later - before the project was completed - after they failed to obtain an injunction against MPAJ. The developer then revoked all the pledges and started the demolitions last November.

The developer had raised Order 89 of the Emergency Ordinance which allows eviction of squatters.

Residents claimed that they have been living there for 40 years and that even an Umno Kampung Berembang branch has been set up to prove some legitimacy.

The remaining residents currently live in the adjacent area around the fence set up by Perspektif Masa cordoning off the development area in Ampang.

Amer said that this issue pertaining to naming the defendants will be decided by justice Mariana Yahya first before hearing claims raised by Perspektif Masa.

The developer's claims include matters deciding ownership of the land, vacant possession and the status of the residents (whether they are considered squatters or not).

Perspektif Masa was represented by Hashim Ibrahim.

Chaos reigns in Kg Berembang - story, photos and video

Watch the two-minute video here.