THE remaining 41 families in Bukit Jalil Estate scored a moral victory four-year struggle when they were recognised as estate workers and not squatters as they had been previously labelled.
The Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing Ministry also cancelled the demolition order for one of the oldest estates in the city and declared all notices sent to the residents under the Clearance of Squatters Regulations 1935 null and void.
Vacate their land and move to nearby PPR Kg Muhibbah to make way for the building of a cemetery. The residents had gathered at the entrance of the estate from as early as 6am carrying banners and placards protesting the eviction order.
At 11am, Deputy Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing Minister Datuk M. Saravanan arrived to give the residents.
Based on documents provided to the ministry, we have come to understand that these people are not squatters but are estate workers and therefore their case must be dealt with under the Human Resources Ministry.
“The Prime Minister has told Federal Territories and Urban Well-being Minister Datuk Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin to study the matter again,’’ he said.
Saravanan said based on this revelation, all eviction and demolition notices issued to the families were null and void.
“We will call for a meeting next week between the FT ministry, the Human Resources ministry, Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL), Bukit Jalil Estate Workers Action Council and the National Union of Plantation Workers (NUPW) to discuss matters before making a final decision,’’ he said.
We were merely the implementing agency and were directed to pay out the compensation to them and DBKL were to help in the relocation exercise.
“We had nothing to do with the discussions between the residents and the Human Resources Ministry and NUPW before this. But now, we need to find out what was discussed before and what compensation was promised,” Saravanan added.
“After four years of struggle, the government has finally recognised us as estate workers. They have opened the door for us to negotiate and this is a good beginning for all estate workers in the country.
It has given us hope and we are confident that the government will do the right thing,’’ said S. Thiakarajan, 57, whose parents were estate workers in the 1935s.
For compensation, Balakrishnan 53, whose wife estate workers, said he hoped the Human Resources ministry would follow the Kinrara Estate example when determining the rights of the Bukit Jalil Estate workers.
Use Kinrara Estate as a president. We were under the same developer before the government took over our estate. The developer of Kinrara Estate used the policy proposed by the labour department.
“Kinrara Estate workers received low-cost homes worth RM25, 000 per unit, RM20, 000 as compensation and they got their school and temple within their previous locality and we only ask for the same thing. If a private developer can do that, why can’t the government?’ Action committee’ asked.