Just as 10 walk free, fresh arrests jolt Kg Papan

The court has rejected the police’s remand applications for Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) members and activists protesting the demolition of homes in Kampung Papan.

Following the development, PSM deputy chairperson S Arutchelvan told Malaysiakini that the group of 10 individuals are expected to be released today after certain processing works are completed at the Klang police station.

However, any sense of reprieve was dampened by the arrest of another six people today, with those hauled up by police including PSM central committee member Chong Yee Shan, as well as Suaram documentation and monitoring coordinator Jernell Tan.

While details on the latest round of arrests remain unclear, Arutchelvan said the group are likely being held under Section 186 of the Penal Code for allegedly obstructing civil servants from doing their duty.

Malaysiakini was later informed by another PSM representative, who preferred to remain anonymous, that as of 11.30am, the number of those arrested today has increased to nine, which includes seven residents.

At around 5pm, the representative said all those targeted by the authorities today have since been released on police bail.

Arutchelvan, who was also arrested on Nov 12 over the alleged offence, further took aim at Selangor Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari for appearing to remain silent while the razing of houses and arrests continue to be carried out in the area.

“The court bailiff and police officers stationed here keep telling us to ask the menteri besar to speak with the developer (Melati Ehsan Consolidated Sdn Bhd) to halt the demolitions.

“We highlighted that there was an agreement (to only demolish vacant and unoccupied homes), but they said the developer is ‘not saying that’,” he claimed.

As such, he urged Amirudin to make his stance on the matter clear by issuing a public statement compelling the developer to adhere to the deal previously committed to by the state government.

“We’ve been trying to appeal to the menteri besar, telling him to come out with a statement, but it seems like he’s just playing around - you’re the menteri besar of the state, come on,” an evidently frustrated Arutchelvan said.

Malaysiakini has reached out to Amirudin for his response.

Selangor state executive councillor Borhan Aman Shah had said last month that demolition work should only be limited to vacant houses and business premises, in line with a “courteous solution that was agreed upon”.

A representative from the developer, who was on site, had said they had received instructions to vacate the houses “per what is stated in the court order”.

Pandamaran assemblyperson Tony Leong, who spoke to reporters at the scene on Nov 12, expressed regret over the developer’s decision to proceed with the demolition.

He said he had joined an urgent meeting with the menteri besar on Oct 21, which was also attended by the developer’s representative, the Selangor Housing and Property Board director, and several elected representatives.

During that meeting, he said, it was decided that only unoccupied houses would be demolished while compensation negotiations were ongoing.

‘Conflict of interest’

On a separate matter, Arutchelvan said he has filed a police report against Klang Selatan district police chief Ramli Kasa over the latter’s alleged “conflict of interest” with Melati Ehsan.

According to a copy of the report filed at the Kajang police station at midnight today, Arutchelvan claimed that Ramli had displayed conduct indicating his “bias” in favour of the company that is carrying out the demolition works.

The PSM leader asserted that on Nov 12, he received a complaint that Ramli had asked court bailiffs to cut off the electricity supply in Kampung Papan - a request that was rejected by the officers as 44 families had a stay order.

“(Ramli’s) proposal was malicious and made in bad faith, as it is not his job.

“He is supposed to ensure public order and harmony, not make suggestions to hasten demolition works, as that is the responsibility of the bailiffs and the developer,” Arutchelvan detailed in the report.

He also alleged that while Ramli denied the matter when confronted, the district police chief had then “ordered” Arutchelvan to be arrested under Section 186.

This, Arutchelvan said, was despite how he had “never obstructed (Ramli’s) work,” insisting that the situation on the ground in Kampung Papan during the eviction and demolition operations only became “aggressive and chaotic” after Ramli’s intervention.

Pushing for probe

Arutchelvan also took issue with a “courtesy visit” from Melati Ehsan to Ramli last month, with details of the meeting shared on the Klang Selatan police’s Facebook page on Oct 7.

“I do not understand why the Klang Selatan police should receive a courtesy visit from a corporate company whose interests conflict with those of the Kampung Papan urban settlers.

“We are of the view that the police may hold courtesy visits with elected representatives, embassies, or government bodies, but what is the rationale for a courtesy visit with the company Melati Ehsan?” Arutchelvan questioned in his police report.

As such, he sought for Ramli to be removed from duties involving Melati Ehsan and Kampung Papan, stressing that another officer who is “fairer and more neutral” should lead the team during the demolition operations.

Besides calling for probes by the police’s Integrity and Standard Compliance Department, the Independent Police Conduct Commission, and the MACC, Arutchelvan also pushed for an investigation by the Selangor police headquarters or Bukit Aman.

Malaysiakini has contacted Ramli and Selangor police chief Shazeli Kahar for their responses to the matter.

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