Three demonstrations against the local authority in a day.
Demo One
By CHRISTINA LOW
Deputy Federal Territories Minister Datuk M. Saravanan was thrown into a lion’s den yesterday when he was being driven into the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) complex.
Greeting him at the entrance was a group of opposition MPs accompanying 200 traders who were staging a peaceful protest against the DBKL for allegedly being high-handed in dealing with them.
War of words: Gobalakrishnan (left) trying to grab Saravanan’s attention while Zuraida (second from left) and Wee look on.
The traders were there to submit a memorandum to Kuala Lumpur mayor Datuk Abdul Hakim Borhan but when they saw Saravanan being driven into the DBKL complex, they stopped and surrounded his car and demanded that he talk to them.
A fierce war of words then broke out between the deputy minister and Pakatan Rakyat MPs – Wee Choo Keong (Wangsa Maju), Tan Kok Wai (Cheras), Fong Kui Kun (Bukit Bintang), Lim Lip Eng (Segambut), Dr Tan Seng Giaw (Kepong), Loh Gwo Burne (Kelana Jaya) and Zuraida Kamarudin (Ampang).
Saravanan was confronted by Wee who demanded that he tell the traders what he would do to resolve their problems. This resulted in a shouting match, with the other MPs joining in challenging the deputy minister to state his stand on the issue.
Saravanan had to keep pleading to the crowd to allow him time to resolve their problems.
The traders had claimed that DBKL officers from its planning department had demolished their stalls on May 21 even after DBKL director-general Datuk Salleh Yusup had promised Wee a day earlier that the demolishing work would be put on hold for two weeks pending further discussion.
On May 21, the DBKL demolished 130 stalls in eight locations in Taman Desa Setapak.
The traders said they had told the enforcement officer in charge that morning of the 14-day grace period but the officer was said to be arrogant and ignored their request.
They said the officer also refused to give them time to remove their fans, fluorescent lights and signboards.
“When they came with huge excavators, lorries with DBKL officers, FRU and police to demolish, they gave us only 10 minutes to leave the area,” one trader said.
“We do not even have time to negotiate or talk to them,” said the trader who had been operating his business there for nearly 20 years.
After Wee contacted Salleh and the mayor’s special assistant Shaari Ahmad, the remaining stalls were given a reprieve.
The eight food court centres that were demolished were said to be trading on government land and had no approval from the DBKL to trade.
According to Saravanan, the DBKL has received complaints that the food court was the cause of major road congestions in the area and that traders did not keep the area clean.
Saravanan said the vacant land would now be used to build Rukun Tetangga and police beat bases as well as preserving it as a green lung.
Demo Two
By FAZLEENA AZIZ
THE Kampung Baru Weekend Market Traders and Welfare Association is against the move by Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) to demolish part of the market in Jalan Raja Muda Musa to make way for a development project.
DBKL issued a notice to 32 traders operating at the site on May 8 under the Essential Regulations (Squatter Eradication) 1969 stating that they should vacate the site on or before May 22 as they were squatting at the place.
The weekend market is said to be a popular spot among tourists, locals as well as for the Nasi Lemak Antarabangsa stall.
No go: Kampung Baru Weekend Market Traders and Welfare Association traders holding a picket against City Hall’s plan to demolish the market.
The association’s president, Dr Hosni Hussen Md Saat, said it was not proper for DBKL to label them as squatters.
“This is a place of business, it is not a squatter area.
“Most of us have been doing business here for many years and it is not fair for DBKL to come and do such a thing.
“Based on our findings, the land, which the area encompasses is under the Selangor Development Corporation (PKNS) and does not belong to DBKL.
“It is government land, managed by the government, when did it become a squatter area,” asked Hosni.
“DBKL was also selective in sending out the notices. We are finding contradicting facts to the whole matter.
“We are not against any development but for them to evade us and classifying us as squatters is not justified.
“DBKL should have brought us in and discussed with us on the development before going ahead with their plan. There has to be a win-win situation for both parties.
“So far they are only offering Projek Perumahan Rakyat (PPR) as compensation to those, who live here while the traders were offered temporary relocation to Jalan Raja Mahadi, Jalan Raja Muda Aziz and Jalan Hashim.
Hosni said there were over 200 shops in the area, which would be affected by the development.
Nadzri Abdul Hamid, who is the association deputy president, asked if DBKL was sincere with their intention.
“If they want to develop this place then the development should include us not exclude us.
“When we can have places like Little India and Chinatown, why cannot we have a Malay town right here?,” asked Nadzri.
About 30 traders gathered in front of the market stating their protest with the hope that some light will be shed over their problem.
Demo Three
By JAYAGANDI JAYARAJ
ABOUT 30 residents from Kampung Abdullah Hukum in Kuala Lumpur marched to the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) complex yesterday morning to submit a memorandum demanding that the loacl auhtority fulfil its promise of providing them units at an apartment project.
The residents, accompanied by Ampang MP Zuraida Kamarudin and Wanga Maju MP Wee Choo Keong, had gathered at Dataran Merderka at about 10am to air their grievances.
Hear us out: Residents of Kg Abdullah Hukum holding up banners Friday.
They represent about 130 households who are in a dilemma over uncertainty of the status of their promised homes at the Apartment Abdullah Hukum.
These residents, who are now renting houses while waiting for their housing units, were supposed to have shifted to the new apartments a year ago.
Last year, the long-time residents of Kampung Abdullah Hukum were asked to move out to make way for the Eco City project by Pelita Dunia Sdn Bhd.
The project includes luxury homes, a commercial centre and a 70-storey tower.
According to Roslan Mat, DBKL has earlier promised that all residents affected by the project will be given a unit each at the Apartment Abdullah Hukum.
The cost of the promised unit was RM51,000. The residents were also promised a compensation of RM6,000 each.
Roslan said all affected residents were moved to the new home stage by stage.
“There are five stages of shifting. All have been moved but shifting for the stage three residents are still pending. The DBKL also have not shown the list of people who are going to be shifted.
“We want to know why is it still pending?” Roslan said.
Roslan, who has been staying in the kampung for 47 years, said the cost of RM51,000 for an apartment unit measuring less than 198 sq meters was too expensive.
“They should give us the homes for free because according to a source from the DBKL town planning department, we were told that the land cost was between RM350 and RM500 per sq feet,” he said.
Roslan also said under the DBKL open housing system (Sistem Perumahan Terbuka), the apartments units were also given to those not from Kampung Abdullah Hukum.
“There are those from outside the kampung and also certain people who got more than one unit. How is that possible?” Roslan said.
Mayor Datuk Abdul Hakim Borhan’s personal assistant Shaari Ahmad Junid accepted the memorandum from the residents.
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