Media statement by M.Kula Segaran at the Perak State Secretariat, Ipoh on Friday, 22^nd June 2012:

Lower income group need assistance and protection from the State Authorities

Today hundreds of people are gathered at the Perak State Secretariat Grounds to demand the state to take action and resolve outstanding housing, squatters, land and related issues.

The main issues are the following.

Issue 1

BN's Perak state government in particular has failed in its attempt to solve the problem of uncompleted and abandoned houses from 1994 which are low costs houses along the Lumut/Ipoh High way. Many have housing loans are still paying for the loans for years. Many times this matter has been brought to the attention to the state authorities. It has been 18 years and there is no solution to this matter?

Issue 2

State government (BN) to this day still has not attended to the squatter issue of people residing at Kampong Thye Lee in Buntong. Many of the residents here are 3rd generation people. While visiting this area on 3rdJanuary2010 MB DS Zamri announced that the MBI and the other authorities have to find a solution to this squatter issue. To date nothing much has come out of the discussion held with the MBI. Why the State Government has failed them.

Issue 3

Approximately 500 plus residents reside at Waller Court which was built in 1962. These flats are run down and not lack maintenance thus the need for redevelopment. The tenants are in the dark as no direct information or negotiations has taken place between the tenants and the local council. In 2002 an attempt to redevelop the Flats fizzled out after severe objections and demonstrations against the MBI by the tenants.

Issue 4

State government (BN) has yet to give approval to the housing lots to 31 families at RPT Tambahan Gunung Rapat. People who not residing at this area instead have been given housing lots. How can this happen?

Issue 5

Perak state government efforts to develop RPT Kg.Razak behind Ipoh Garden Wing Onn 2008. Participants have paid to the developer appointed by the land office the required expenses asked for. Nearly 4 years has gone by and 85 applicants are still waiting for the title deeds and to move onto their land.

Issue 6

State Government has approved 51 housing lots in Kg.Hock Aun RPT Lot to the original in habitants in 19th February 2008, but six of the original people have not been included in the final name list. What has happened to these people? How come non residents and those not living here have been given the housing lots instead?

Issue 7

Participants 270 people have applied for 2000 acres of Indian land State Agricultural Development Corporation (PPPNP) in South Sg.Siput. Since 2008 the applicants have not received any response from the State or PKNP.

Issue 8

18 Indian participants have been seeking about 200 acres of land owned by the Perak State Development Corporation (PKNP) for cows / goats and other animal husbandry activities at Kanthan Chemor. State Government has been quiet about this issue. Why?

Issue 9

30 Breeders of cattle have been promised by the Perak State Veterinary Department to develop a land area of ​​186 acres in Mukim Sungai Terap as Grazing area. In 2009, they were promised by the State Veterinary Director and Deputy Senior State Veterinary of these lands. On this expectation the 30 farmers have developed the area and have set up 17 pens of cattle at a cost of about RM 2 MILLION. Three (3) months ago farmers were informed that the occupied and cultivated land has been given to some third parties. The state authority should deal direct with farmers rather then through an appointed 3rdparty (middle man). We don't need Ali Baba business arrangement.

Housing

The lower income group needs has to be addressed. We see a situation of many are either squatting on state private or govern land for decades without having a permanent roof over their head.

In the case of Waller Court there are over 500 flats and 36 shop lots. These building was built in 1962. The building is only about 70% occupied and is quite an eye shore as its in a run down situation.

There are now proposal for redevelopment of these flats and there has been no discussion with the tenants of these flats. Why?

The state is reported to be negotiating with developers to rebuild the flats with a costs of over RM30 million.

We urge the authorities to announce their plans for Waller Court. Also the tenants who are the main stake holders of this redevelopment must be consulted before any process takes place.

Squatters

2001 was the targeted date for Perak to be squatter free according to the then Menteri Besar Tajol Rosli. This was not achieved. Now their are over 15,000 squatters as at today. Zambri said last year that Perak will be squatter free by 2012. Can this happen? The Perak Government has been urged to lay out a blue print on the squatter issue. To date noting concrete has taken place. The failure to do this clearly indicates the lost of direction and leadership of the BN state Government of Perak.

For many years and decades the above issues have been known to the Perak State Government and its administrative office but little concrete action has been taken to address this issues. Why? Are the downtrodden and lower income group are irrelevant?

The above complainants have been meeting Pakatan Rakyat (PR) leaders and asking for help to resolve these issues.

We request the relevant bodies of the state administration to look into the details of the memorandum submitted today and find a win win solution to their out standing issues.

* M. Kula Segaran, DAP National Vice Chairman & MP for Ipoh Barat