280 plots of land in Ulu Yam changed hands without knowledge of
landowners
Press Statement
by Ronnie Liu Tian Khiew
(Kuala Lumpur,
Monday): I was in
Ulu Yam Baru on last Saturday afternoon together with Selangor DAP Chairman
Ong Chee Ken, Deputy Chairman Tee Boon Hock and legal advisor Jeyapalan
Mahesan to meet the Ulu Yam landowners over complaints that plots belong to
them originally were transferred to family members and relatives of local
influential MCA leaders and former village heads without their knowledge.
Their predicaments were quite
similar with the 18 landowners in Kapar, where plots of land given to them
under the Rancangan Buku Hijau (Green revolution) were transferred to
a local MCA Datuk without their knowledge (Malay Mail cover story, 19
March 2005).
Some 280 plots of land for
housing or agriculture were said to have changed hands in and around Ulu Yam
Lama and Ulu Yam Baru according to some reliable sources.
The local land office officials
have told the villagers about the bad news but they were unable to give
details relating to the respective new landowners. Some of the landowners
have made police reports under our advice. They have given the names of the
suspected MCA leaders to the police. We urge the police to start
investigations immediately as the scam involves so many villagers and
landowners.
On the other hand, many
landowners were still in the dark. They were not aware of such land scams
involving family members and relatives of former village heads. DAP Selangor
have advised them to make a search with the local land office. We have also
decided to gather information and documents from the affected landowners and
villagers. We will then hand over a petition to the local land office, the
state land office and director general of land and mines of the federal
government for a solution.
DAP maintains that all lands
alienated to the Ulu Yam villagers must be return to them within one month.
Failing which, DAP will help the affected parties to initiate a legal
petition to safeguard their rights.
Former Deputy Prime Minister
Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has opined that Malaysia has becoming more corrupt
under the Abdullah’s leadership. It’s up to the PM to prove him wrong.
(21/3/2005)
* Ronnie Liu Tian Khiew,
DAP International Secretary and NGO bureau chief
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http://dapmalaysia.org