Homes demolished based on court order

K Pragalath

| June 4, 2011

Developer Peter Brickworks gave Selangor councillor Iskandar Samad the snub, when they went ahead and demolished the homes of PJS1 residents.

PETALING JAYA: PJS1 longhouse residents, who’ve been at odds with developer Peter Brickworks, discovered that a ‘no demolition’ commitment given to them by Selangor state executive councillor Iskandar Samad was meaningless in the face of a court decision.

Yesterday pleas for a reprieve on humanitarian grounds fell on deaf ears as the residents alongwith PJ Selatan MP Hee Loy Sian watched in dismay as their homes were demolished by authorities waving a court order.

“We will vacate on Saturday and Sunday. You can demolish on Monday,” pleaded Hee, on behalf of the residents but court bailiff Nurul Asma Hairi refused to budge.

She said the demolishment was based on a court decision and could not be deferred.

“I am only following instructions. I have to obey court order,” she told the residents upon arrival at the site.

She was accompanied by police officers and developer’s, Peter Brickworks, representative.

An agitated PJS1 resident committee chairman, S Sugumaran confronted Nurul Asma saying: “We agree to move out. Your actions are inhumane and violates human rights.”

In response Nurul Asma called her superior, a court official, who then asked the residents if they were willing to foot the cost of proceedings if he delayed the demolition.

The court official, who declined to be named, argued that lawyers for Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) had failed to obtain a third party intervention to stop the demolition.

‘Developers agreed’

Sugumaran however said that the developers had ‘orally’ agreed to postpone the demolishment.

“Developer Peter Brickwall agreed orally not to demolish at the meeting with state exco Iskandar Samad last night,” he said.

Also present at the site was Suhakam chief commissioner Shaani Abdullah.

“We have received reports of threats against the residents. The developer has a social responsibility to provide homes for the people,” he said.

Echoing Shaani’s views, Hee also said that “Pekida gangsters were also involved with the police.”

A disappointed Sugumaran later told FMT that he hoped that the Selangor government would take necessary action and keep up their word.

“Iskandar promised that the demolition will not happen. He promised to take action.

“He sent an SMS stating that the state would seize three plots of the developers land on Monday, ” he said.

The residents would also be meeting the state government officials on Monday.