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Good news for Batu Estate residents

January 31st, 2010
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We are reading more cases being settled now, but the actual situation will be known when the projects are completed. We have seen many failures when the residents (labelled squatters) are promised houses, but end up living in rented premises or longhouses for up to two decades. Residents have a right to be scared or skeptical over the promises made by authorities, politicians and developers as the success stories are few. Hopefully the ex-Batu Estate residents will be a happy lot after this.

From the Star:

RESIDENTS of Batu Estate, Segambut will be given a fair deal at the end of two years of negotiations with the developer of the land, Mayland Development Sdn Bhd.

Deputy Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing Minister Datuk M.Saravanan met with the residents on Thursday to announce the settlement fee agreed upon.

“The developer has agreed to pay RM2mil to all the residents, out of which RM200,000 will be given to the lawyer who took up the resident’s case,” Saravanan said.

Some 41 former estate workers will be given RM30,000 each while the 54 squatters who moved in later will receive RM10,000 per home.

Trust us: Han (left) and Saravanan (second from left) speaking to the residents during a briefing.

Saravanan said that as part of the deal, the residents were also given Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) low cost flats but the only ones available were at the Kampung Muhibbah flats in Puchong.

“We will not force the residents to move there but if they wish to wait, we can see if any of the reserve units in the flats around the Batu constituency are available,” he added.

He also asked the residents to celebrate Thaipusam and take the weekend to think over the offer before accepting or making any decisions.

Saravanan applauded the developer’s efforts in ensuring the people affected were compensated.

“They have not only taken in the assets but also the liabilities that came with the assets. It was not part of the original deal when they purchased the land but they have seen to it that all parties were happy,” he said.

Mayland Development Sdn Bhd legal counsel Han Seng Kwang said they saw the move as compassionate commercialism.

“We have to be patient with the people. If there are squatters next to our property, we cannot sell well so we believe we can enhance the value by doing this,” he said.

Han added that the company does not believe in reaping a fortune at other people’s expense. The buyers of the third and fourth phase of condominiums will feel good knowing that half of the purchase was used to help others.

“After the meeting I spoke to some of the residents and they do not earn much so a home nearby for them is necessary,” he said.

He also said the residents do not have to fear as they would pay the settlement as promised. Han said many were sceptical and afraid to sign the agreement for fear they would be cheated.

On the Kampung Railway issue in Sentul, Saravanan said he saw no reason why the developer would not build the low cost flats as it was part of the conditions set by the DBKL.

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More clarification on YTL Sentul Raya project

January 13th, 2010
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Developer clarified, Deputy Minister clarified, now let’s read what a  property buyer clarifies about:

WITH regard to the letter that appeared in StarMetro on Jan 1 headlined “Developer sticking to plan.”

The developer again is misrepresenting facts with regard to the Sentul Raya development project when they state that Lot 16 is designated for low-cost and medium-cost apartments.

The developer was supposed to have built KTMB Village medium-cost apartments on the portion of the land (PT 16) allocated to KTMB under the privatisation project.

This component was to be owned by KTMB for use as its staff quarters since about 1,200 old quarters were demolished from the development land.

This was not meant for low-cost housing, which, in the original approved development plan, has been allocated to be built on the neighbouring plots between KTMB Village and the present Boulevard shophouses. There were allocation for four to five blocks of high-rise low-cost apartments on this designated land.

The squatters were then promised a unit each on this land and not in Puchong or elsewhere. The developer has also made misrepresentations on the medium cost components such as Villa Perhentian and others.

They seem to have converted all these components into high-cost products for maximum return disregarding the Corporate Social Responsibility and the approved policy of the Government to “regenerate” Sentul KTMB reserve land for the benefit of all by building low-cost, medium-cost and high-cost mixed development. A mere reference to the published original development plan (Master Plan) should throw enough light on these issues.

The developer should stop misleading and confusing the public and stakeholders in the project by making irresponsible statements. They should, instead, implement Sentul “regeneration” project for the benefit of all stratum of society and not for the benefit of the rich and famous alone.

Hj Moideen N K

President, Sentul Raya real estate buyers

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Deputy FT Minister clarifies on Sentul issue

December 30th, 2009
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If yesterday we read about YTL’s explanation, today we have a look at Deputy FT Minister Saravanan’s views:

THE Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing Ministry has asked the developer, YTL Land & Development Berhad, to honour their promise to build low- and medium- cost homes for the poor in Sentul.

Its deputy minister, Datuk M. Saravanan, said when the negotiations was done years ago between Sentul Raya Sdn Bhd and Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) for the development of Kampung Railway, Sentul Raya had committed to build the low-cost houses for the residents.

“This agreement was done during the then Deputy National Unity and Social Development Minister Datuk Alex Lee’s time. We have a written confirmation on this (agreement),’’ Saravanan said.

“When YTL took over Sentul Raya, they confirmed that it would be their top priority to build these homes. Now they are refusing to honour their agreement,’’ he said.

Saravanan said he was disappointed with the developer’s reasoning that they were not responsible because the agreement was made with another company (Sentul Raya) and that YTL only took over in 1997.

“When you take over assets, you also take over the liabilities. As a developer you also have a corporate social responsibility to the community and not just be profit-driven,’’ Saravanan said.

Some 50 people, comprising Batu MIC division members and squatters from Kampung Railway in Sentul, staged a protest at the YTL building in Jalan Bukit Bintang in Kuala Lumpur on Monday over claims that low- and medium-cost flats were not being built as promised.

The group demanded for the promise based on an agreement in 1994 be fulfilled.

They held placards and marched for a short stretch along the street before crowding in front of the YTL building entrance waiting to hand over the memorandum to a management representative.

Kuala Lumpur City Hall Advisory Board member C. Ramanathan said DBKL had even issued a letter confirming the 1994 agreement and re-affirming the proposal to build the low-cost units.

“The letter basically says that they (DBKL) are still waiting for the developer to put in the development proposal,’’ Ramanathan said.

Ramanathan, who holds the housing and squatter relocation portfolio in the DBKL board, said the area was now developed with many high-end apartments.

“What about the poor people who have been living here since the beginning. What about their plight?’’ he asked.

Kampung Railway resident S. Siva said he was appalled by the manner how the residents were being side-lined by the developer.

“We are not squatters. We have been paying quit rent since the 1940s up until 1991. Till today we are paying the assessment fees and bills like Indah Water,’’ he said.

The residents are being asked to relocate to Puchong — which will cripple them financially since most of them are very poor.

According to the 1994 agreement, Sentul Raya Sdn Bhd (under YTL) was to build 3,000 low- and medium-cost flats and two multi-purpose halls and a football field.

But so far, nothing has materialised.

See how is it to be labelled as squatters?  Last time, the community was driven out from estates to urban resettlement or left on their own. Now the vicious cycle continues in urban areas. Where else to run to?

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YTL clarifies

December 29th, 2009
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Following the protests by the residents in Sentul over the missing low-cost houses, YTL provides some clarification:

According to a representative of YTL Land & Development Berhad, the only agreement made was with Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) for the development of Kampung Railway.

The representative said the company had been wrongly vindicated in this matter as Sentul Raya Sdn Bhd in 1994 was under another parent company and that YTL only took over later in 1997.

“It has nothing to do with YTL as our joint venture agreement is only with KTMB, whereby Kampung Railway will comprise a series of medium-cost apartments to be constructed on Sentul Lot PT16 for the purpose of housing KTMB employees and their immediate families.

“The identified site for this project, unfortunately, has been occupied by squatters and their reluctance to move has delayed the commencement of construction for a considerable time,” said the representative, adding that this meant the memorandum handing-over was also directed to a wrong party.

In a press statement issued, it is said some 41 families have already moved out of their squatter homes; with 22 of the 41 relocated to PPR Kg Muhibbah Puchong while the other 19 found homes of their own.

As for this current group of 18 families, a court case was ongoing and no date has been fixed for the next mention.

“We have taken numerous measures to look into the welfare and interest of the affected families, like dialogues and briefings, extending moving-out deadline, assisting the families with new low-cost homes via liaising with the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL).

“We will still offer relocation compensation and assist with the new accommodation, although it is in the hands of the DBKL to decide on the location,” said the representative.

Some residents say they did not know what they signed, while others saying moving to Puchong is too far and incur very high costs.

Meanwhile, this is the predicament of the Kampung Railway residents:

RESIDENTS of Kampung Railway in Sentul suspect that the low-cost flats promised them were scrapped due to the possibility of a hypermarket taking shape in the area.

The residents recently won a year-long legal battle against the developers and Keretapi Tanah Melayu Bhd (KTMB).

The original residents of the village were former employees of KTMB and many of the current residents are their descendants. According to them, they had been promised low-cost flats but, till today, had heard nothing further.

Last year, they were served with eviction notices, citing plans for a railway village for KTMB employees.

They began their legal battle in December, 2008, when Batu MP Tian Chua helped them file the suit. On April 29, this year the court had ruled in their favour.

“The court acknowledged that the 20 residents should receive low-cost units as promised because they had documentation proving their cause,” Chua said.

KTMB filed an appeal a month after the decision was handed down.

Since then, three more residents have opted to join in the lawsuit.

Chua said they would have to provide the proper documentation, including family history and assessment bills paid during their stay at Kampung Railway.

However, the two families highlighted in StarMetro’s article on Dec 16, M. Thanaletchumy and her son-in-law, R. Parthiban, cannot be included in the list as they have already signed agreements to move out.

K. Letchumi, 39, whose house was demolished together with Thanaletchumy’s is also seeking help to fight her case. She has not signed any agreement to move out but her house was still demolished.

Chua said they had only relocated residents who had lived in the area for less than 10 years to Kampung Muhibbah, Puchong.

According to him, brochures sent out by the developers showed that a hypermarket would be built on the land.

“Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) cannot issue a development order for the construction as it was initially planned for low-cost flats,” he said.

Chua said he would bring up the issue with KL mayor Datuk Ahmad Fuad Ismail and Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing minister Datuk Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin.

So, YTL is saying those people staying in Kampung Railways are squatters whereas they are descendents of the KTMB employees, and some of them have won their court case against KTM and developer?

Yesterday, residents together with MIC  held a protest:

OVER 50 people, comprising Batu MIC division members and squatters residents from Kampung Railway in Sentul, staged a protest yesterday over claims that low- and medium-cost flats are not being built as promised.

The protest was held at the YTL building in Jalan Bukit Bintang in Kuala Lumpur where the group demanded for the promise based on an agreement in 1994 be fulfilled.

They held placards and marched for a short stretch along the street before crowding in front of the YTL building entrance waiting to hand over the memorandum to a management representative.

In the memorandum, it is claimed that Sentul Raya Sdn Bhd (under YTL) was to build 3,000 units of low- and medium-cost flats and two multi-purpose halls and a football field.

However, the group said not a single low-cost unit has been built 15 yearson.

Batu MIC division chairman C. Ramanathan, who is the group’s spokesperson, said the area was now developed with many high-end apartments.

“What we want is for the developer to honour its promise made 15 years back, that is to build the low and medium-cost units,” said Ramanathan.

“They have been asked to relocate to Puchong but it’s so far away. These are poor people earning like RM400 a month and many are uneducated folks who would not know what is happening once they move there.”

Resident Yogalingam Muthukrishnan, 41, said his father first made the home there 50 years back, and is unhappy now that he is asked to move to Puchong.

“I have children who are still schooling so it’s not convenient for me. Also, they have taken away our football field there,” he said.

YTL Land & Development Berhad customer relations manager Karen Tan later came out to receive the memorandum.

Police officers had gathered around to supervise and man the crowd.

So, is this another case of badly management development with scant regards for the residents? Some of the villages in Sentul exists for more than 100 years, so what happened in last 10 years? Where did all the folks go to?

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Sentul developer not fulfilling promise

December 18th, 2009
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Its not easy to stand up to giant developers. Today The Star published this:

The excerpt above says (a) the developer agrees to identify a plot of empty land which is suitable for building temporary houses for the residents while waiting for low cost houses to be built and allocated for the residents. (b) The developer agrees to inform about the empty land after Hari Raya Aidilftri.

This is not any developer, but YTL. So, what is going to be their response? This is a damage to the reputation of YTL if indeed they reneged on the agreement.

Years ago, Indian were thrown out of estates and left to fend for themselves. Now, the second cycle is happening. Housing areas are being developed with houses in the range of hundreds or thousands or even millions of ringgit. What happens to the folks with low-income? They become non-existent or sent to some corner of the city, away from the “rich” areas. Are we happy just watching the history repeat again?  Do you think the people would just disappear from the face of the earth? Or are we sowing the seeds of crime by pushing these people into an abyss of hopelessness and poverty?

Those of us earning thousands of ringgit would find it difficult when petrol price increases or when we incur extra costs due to distance. What more of people who earn less than RM2000 with 2 or 3 kids to feed?

Being less educated (or even uneducated), these folks can be easily conned into signing agreements without them understanding the contents. Let’s face it, some of us educated people also get confused with all the legal and technical terms, what more of them?

IT WAS a day of anxiety for residents of Sentul as a major part of the squatter homes in the area were under siege by both the local council and the developers.

Just moments after the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) officers had retreated from Kampung Tanah Lapang yesterday, political party representatives received a call from three distressed women in Lorong 15, Jalan Sentul Pasar.

The women were being evicted from their houses pending a court order from developer YTL Land and Development, the owner of the land they live on.

The eldest, a widow with 10 children, said she had unknowingly signed an agreement form to shift to the DBKL flats in Kampung Muhibbah, Puchong.

“I have no problem shifting, but I did not want a home in Puchong. I live off the RM400 welfare money I receive each month and the donations from organisations in Sentul,” said Thanaletchumy Marimuthu, 41.

She and her married daughter R. Jayanthy, 24, live in one house and each has been offered a unit in Puchong but they refuse to shift there as the move would affect their livelihood and their children’s education.

Another resident, K. Letchumi, 39, works in Batu Caves and has an ailing mother, a disabled sibling and her children, as well as her own child to care for.

She has to manage this with a monthly salary of RM1,000 and if she shifts to Puchong, a huge chunk of the money would be spent on travelling alone.

Their one question remains unanswered: What happened to the low-cost flats that were promised to them by the previous developer, Taiping Consolidated?

The new developer, YTL, denies the promise but residents have proof to claim otherwise.

Documents agreeing to the requests bearing the Sentul Raya Sdn Bhd letter head and several other documents from Taiping Consolidated have been unearthed.

This new turn of events has raised the morale of the people, as they have finally found grounds to fight their case.

The entire Sentul area is slowly being transformed, with high-end condominiums cropping up everywhere. However, this would mean that the original residents of the famed area will have to leave their homes.

“The developer should build low-cost and medium-cost flats, and practise their corporate social responsibility here in Sentul,” Batu MIC division chairman Ramanathan Chinnu said.

For now, Ramanathan and the Batu MIC Youth chairman D. Pala Kumaran will seek the assistance of Deputy Federal Territories and Urban Well Being Minister Datuk M. Saravanan to find three units in the Batu Muda flats near by for the three women and their families.

The women are scheduled to shift out today.

Even in my housing area, the developer (Plenitude Permai) changed the plan many times now, and residents are the ones who are short-changed. No community hall, no club house, no proper signages. I’m not sure if they know what is CSR. I wonder how the local council (Majlis Perbandaran Sepang) can approve new phases without taking all this into consideration.

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