PETALING JAYA: The Federal Territories Land and Mines Office today defended its “brutal” action in demolishing the homes of some 100 farmers at a 100-acre illegal farming site inside the Sungai Besi army camp near Balakong yesterday.
Its director Hasim Ismail told FMT that its action was justified as ample time had been given to the illegal occupants of the land, which belonged to the Defence Ministry.
“There is nothing brutal here. We have to understand and consider each other’s rights and responsibilities. These people have been living there illegally for 30 over years, reaping rewards from the land, but did we take any action then? We have given them years, and then months,” he said.
Hasim added that the department was not considering any compensation, which the 124 or so farmers have been asking for, as everything has been done in accordance with the law.
“There was only one poor family who qualified to receive assistance and they have been referred to Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) to relocate them to a nearby government People’s Housing Project,” he said.
He said the department gave two premises – one rearing bullfrogs and the other fish – until Friday to move out.
“As usual, when we enforce the law, the press will only highlight how ‘brutal’ we are, but do you also consider that they are illegal farmers? They have already made profits from the land all these years,” he said.
Hasim added that the authorities could have charged the farmers with trespassing on government land but chose not to do so.
On allegations that the authorities were “heartless” when they used bulldozers to tear down the homes, Hasim said the farmers themselves should be “more sincere” in leaving and not simply demand for more time.
Yesterday, some 100 enforcement officers, armed with bulldozers and backed up by anti-riot police, demolished almost all of the 124 farming lots in the area.
DAP leaders Selangor exco and Seri Kembangan assemblyman Ean Yong Hian Wah and Serdang MP Teo Nie Ching later condemned the action, saying that the authorities were “brutal”.
They were unhappy that the authorities did not discuss with the farmers before moving in or consider giving them compensation. The farmers suffered losses estimated at RM1.6 million.
Humanitarian grounds
Meanwhile, Teo said that a police report has been lodged today on an allegation that one of the enforcement officers had asked farmers to “balik Cina”.
“We also have proof to show that an officer from the Federal Territories Land and Mines Office stole a plant while another officer from DBKL stole a chicken from the farm.
“This is ridiculous. We want action taken against these two officers. Theft cannot be tolerated.”
“But more importantly, we are asking for compensation. The farmers admitted they do not own the land, but at least give them some compensation since Chinese New Year is around the corner,” Teo said.
“Their action is very harsh, and we are very unhappy with DBKL and the Defence Ministry. They simply refused to talk to us,” she said, adding that a fence has been put up to bar the farmers from returning to salvage their belongings.
Teo also asked why only one farmer was given welfare.
“Only one? The authorities must be more transparent in this matter. Tell us what are the criteria to qualify for assistance?”
Teo said that the farmers deserved some form of compensation on humanitarian grounds, as there were many cases where compensation was approved.
“In Malaysia, we have so many farmers who are working on a piece of land that doesn’t belong to them. This is their livelihood,” Teo said.
“When you take away their rice bowl, how are they to survive and feed their family? The government should be more responsible and caring.”
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