Tired of hearing unfulfilled promises from previous state governments, Kampung Keretapi Tanah Melayu (KTM) and Kampung Dewan Bandaraya Ipoh (DBI) settlers called on the present state government to build them new homes, reported The Star.
Spokesman R. Mohanarani, who is the Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) central committee member, revealed that around 15 families live in both villages.
“They were the descendants of city council and KTM workers who have been living on the prime land owned by the previous Ipoh Municipal Council (now Ipoh City Council) before Malaysia’s independence,” she said.
“The grandparents of the Kampung DBI villagers used to live in small quarters in the labour lines along Jalan Sungai Pari in Buntong…The council then gave them permission to build wooden houses nearby.”
Forced to move out in 1997, the families have been “protesting over their housing arrangement since then”.
While the city council had ordered the old quarters’ demolition in 1997, PSM managed to secure an injunction to stop the demolition from the Ipoh High Court in March 1999.
“We hope the current state government will do the villagers right after all these years of waiting.”
Mohanarani along with several villagers handed over a letter to the state government asking for a meeting with Perak Mentri Besar Ahmad Faizal Azumu so they could come up with an amicable solution.
The letter was received by Ahmad Faizal’s private secretary Nizran Noordin and special officer Khairul Shahril Amir since the state assembly sitting was still in session.
Since 1999, the villagers had submitted a number of letters to the state government to highlight their plight, said Mohanarani.
Although two former mentris besar – Tan Sri Ramli Ngah Talib and Tan Sri Tajol Rosli Mohamed Ghazali – promised alternative housing for the villagers, nothing materialised.
“In 2007, the city council entered into a joint venture with a developer to develop the DBI quarters, with the condition that the villagers’ housing issue would be settled by the developer,” she said.
“An agreement was reached subsequently where the developer would build low-cost housing to be sold to the residents at a subsidised price of RM16,000 per unit. But the project never took place.”
Former mentri besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir also announced in 2009 that automatic land titles would be given to squatters living on government land for over 10 years.
“Then in 2011, former Ipoh city mayor Datuk Roshidi Hashim suggested building 115 single-storey terrace houses at Kampung DBI to be sold at a subsidised price of RM35,000 each…But still, none of the plans materialised.”
Over the years, some of the residents decided to move out of the villages, while those who could not afford to buy or rent a house stayed behind.
M. Susai, a 65-year old resident, said the village houses were not only dilapidated, its surroundings were also infested with pests like snakes.
“A villager died after being bitten by a snake. Monitor lizards enter our houses too…We have been given all sorts of promises but nothing has happened,” he said.
“We want the state government to make things right for us as promised.”
Image sourced from The Star Online
This article was edited by the editorial team of PropertyGuru. To contact them about this or other stories email editorialteam@propertyguru.com.my
Avoid being victims by understanding your rights as a property buyer. Read up more here!
