DBKL to stay out of Batu Estate dispute

City Hall puts off demolition of homes until developer gets a court order.

KUALA LUMPUR: Batu Estate residents facing eviction received a second reprieve today when Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) decided to stay out of their dispute with a property development company.

DBKL Director-General Mohd Salleh Yusuf said City Hall would not demolish their homes before Mayland Developers Sdn Bhd received a court order allowing it to evict them.

Demolition workers were ready to move in last Feb 16, but City Hall decided at the last minute to give the residents and the developer until March 3 to negotiate. Today’s announcement cancels the March 3 deadline.

“We will not interfere until the developer gets a court order for the residents to leave the land,” Mohd Salleh told the press after he met with the residents at his office today.

This morning, before Mohd Salleh’s announcement, several Batu Estate residents staged a hunger strike in an attempt to dissuade DBKL from using the Emergency Ordinance to evict them.

The ordinance allows DBKL to assist landowners in evicting squatters. Mohd Salleh assured the squatters that City Hall would not use that power although Mayland had tried to get its assistance.

Asked whether DBKL was supporting the developer, he said, “No way. We are here to resolve squatter problems. And we will offer homes.”

One of the residents involved in today’s negotiations, V Thilagenthiran, told reporters he and his neighbours were happy with DBKL’s assurance.

Batu MP Tian Chua, Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng and Port Dickson state assemblyman M Ravi said they too were glad.

Thilagenthiran also revealed that Mayland representatives held negotiations with the residents yesterday.

He said the residents rejected the developer’s offer of RM30,000 for residents and RM10,000 for squatters.

The residents’ lawyer was not present at the meeting, but “there were police,” he added.