SQUATTERS in Kg Manis, Perai in Penang are bent on not leaving their village, despite facing the threat of imprisonment and a fine of up to half a million ringgit after being ordered to move by the landowner, Railway Assets Corporation (RAC).

The squatters, living in poverty and cramped houses, told The Malaysian Insight the eviction notice from RAC, which is under the Transport Ministry, was inhumane.

They are demanding for replacement homes if the RAC insists on developing the land they have occupied for the past 50 years.

Army veteran S. Sinapan, 65, said he had lived in the village for the past 30 years, inheriting the house from his father-in-law.

“I have my children here and now I have grandchildren who live with me. The people here are all poor, poor people.

“If we have to be evicted and even if we want to buy a new house, we can’t afford it, let alone pay the fine.

“Where can we go? How do we buy a house?” he told The Malaysian Insight.

RAC is a statutory body set up to help develop the rail industry in Malaysia under the Railways Act 1991, after the Malayan Railway (KTM) was incorporated in 1992.

Through the Act, all rail assets under KTM have been transferred to the RAC while the operations and services are managed by the Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad.

Another resident, Hetijah Ariffin, 69, questioned why RAC only wanted to expel them now from the village, after they have been living there for many years.  

“I have been living here since 1975. At that time the area was just a forest.

“Why evict us now, after our family has grown up here?” asked Hetijah, who used to work in a sugar factory located in front of the village.

She also said if they had a choice they do not want to live in a squatter house forever but they also have no way out because of poverty.

“My husband used to work as a labourer on a ship. We do not have a pension or anything. That is why we are still here.

“Of course I want a nice house but there is no other option,” she said.

Hetijah also said most of them have nowhere to go after being given a “short notice” to vacate the village.

“We have been given six months to vacate. We don’t have anywhere to go as we have lived here for many years. Our grandchildren were also born here,” she said.

RAC yesterday issued a notice to the villagers to vacate the land, which has been slated for development.

The evacuation order will affect 200 families, comprising approximately 120 Indians families and the rest Malays.

For decades the village has existed and the federal government has also set up several public facilities including a mini library and a Kemas kindergarten.

The residents also built mosques and temples for their prayers.

Businessman Muhammad Iqbal Kader Zaini, 43, said the RAC directive to vacate is unfair because they do not care about the fate of the residents.

“From this barren land there is now a mosque, public hall, kindergarten and small library. If we are encroaching here, then why did the government build these basic facilities for us?

“We understand this land belongs to RAC but to evict us without any compensation and damages, is cruel.”

He demanded the RAC listen to the residents and even expressed their readiness to negotiate with them.

Perai rep and Deputy Chief Minister II P. Ramasamy said he is not stopping RAC from developing the area but they also need to be considerate.

“All of a sudden there is a notice to vacate. Where are the residents of Kg Manis going to go?

“They should have come and consulted with me or with the village representatives. We have no problem assisting them.”

Ramasamy said the state government had invited the RAC management to develop the area in collaboration but they did not receive any feedback.

“Although the Kg Manis land belongs to the RAC, the organisation does not have a legal right to forcibly evict the residents without giving them new properties or commensurate compensation.

“Perhaps the law is in favour of the RAC, but this does not mean that forced evictions are allowed,” he said. – December 16, 2020.