Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe by Email While most of us are counting the hours to celebrate Ponggal, all’s not well with Kampung Pandan folks. Their relocation issue is still unsettled. The latest eviction notice by DBKL gave today as the deadline. Over time, many folks have left, but the remain families are sticking to their guns.
SOME 250 Indian families in the Kampung Pandan Indian settlement are worried that they would not be able to celebrate Ponggal (Harvest Festival) tomorrow as they have received final notices from the Kuala Lumpur City Council (DBKL) to vacate their houses by today, reported Malaysia Nanban.
The families had been living there for the past 70 years. In earlier letters to the residents, DBKL requested the residents to move into rental houses built by the city council in Bukit Jalil, Puchong.
The residents, in their counter offer, asked for houses in the Sri Alam, Sungai Besi area. DBKL rejected the request. The residents complained that the units in Bukit Jalil did not have the necessary facilities such as Tamil schools, temples and halls.
The residents are hoping that Federal Territories Deputy Minister Datuk M. Saravanan would look into the problem and find an amicable solution.
After the folks supported PAS in the elections last year, the DBKL sent eviction notices in June, giving one month for the residents to move out. The temple was demolished earlier. The residents organised a protest.
Now, after 8 months, there’s still no progress. The offer to relocate them to Puchong is on the table. But Kg Pandan to Puchong is so far away. How do we expect the residents to manage the extra expenses? Kids go to school in nearby schools, most of the residents should be working around KL centre. Puchong to KL is a jam-packed road. Can’t rely on public transport. Need to wake up much more earlier. Need to change schools (BTW, the Tamil school will be relocated or wiped off the face of earth?) So much of hassle and expenses.
The residents were asking for low cost houses in the same spot, but I doubt it will be granted. The place is surely meant for some mega development by big players. Not for low-cost residents. Now, they want the alternative accomodation to be at Sg Besi (which is also a bit far) citing lack of facilities (no temple, hall, school) at Puchong. DBKL rejected the request.
The elected MP can only shout and support so much. In the end, the responsibility lies with the Ministry and DBKL.
Samy Vellu and previous BN MPs have tried before, but nothing much happened. What can Saravanan do now?
