PAYA Jaras residents have accused Selangor and its assemblymen of abandoning them to fend for themselves after their homes were demolished to make way for a flood-mitigation project. 

A resident represntative said the state government did not offer RM7,000 to subsidise relocation costs for Sg Kedondong residents as claimed.

“There were no such offers,” said Paya Jaras residents action committee chairman Azroy Manaf.

Azroy also disagreed with Paya Jaras assemblyman Mohd Khairuddin Othman’s statement that residents had refused to relocate despite being given notice to do so since 2015.

“It’s true that notice was given in 2016 but the residents decided not to move because he had written a protest letter to former menteri besar Mohamed Azmin Ali to hold off the demolition.

“The demolition was stopped because of his letter and now Khairuddin says we are stubborn,” said Azrol.

Thirty-five of 92 houses were demolished on Wednesday to make way for the RM5.93 million Kedondong flood mitigation project.

Azrol said he was also disappointed with Sg Buloh MP R. Sivarasa, who said the September 18 demolition would only involve three houses.

“On September 16, Sivarasa announced that there would be demolition but it only involved three houses in Block D. The matter has already been communicated to the owners and they were aware.

“There was not going to be any more demolitions until November. And if residents are not ready to move by then, Sivarasa said the demolition would be extended until December 3. But on September 18, they demolished all the houses,” he said.

Meanwhile, Pertubuhan Jalinan Sukarelawan Malaysia president Isham Jalil wants to help the affected residents to obtain Rumah Selangorku units and seek legal address.

“Earlier, they promised to give Rumah Selangorku units in Aman Puteri. But where are these houses?

“If the state government kept its promise, the residents wouldn’t have to stay here,” said Isham.

Former Paya Jaras assemblyman Muhammad Bushro Mat Johor said they had previously helped relocate more than 3,000 squatter households in the constituency.

“We ensured that they were able to get new housing near Kg Sentosa behind the Sg Buloh Hospital.

“We didn’t move them away but somewhere in the area,” said the Umno leader.

Meanwhile, Paya Jaras assemblyman Khairuddin said he had not abandoned the residents of Kg Sg Kedondong. 

He said the villagers were offered Rumah Selangorku without having to wait for five years as was the procedure. 

He added the offer letters for Rumah Selangorku had been handed over to the villagers.

Khairuddin also said the state government could not postpone the flood mitigation project earmarked in the area as it has been approved in 2018. – September 20, 2019.