MACC report filed against state govt, MIC leaders

A group of villagers in Perak who have been waiting for land titles for the past 80 years have now taken their case to the anti-corruption watchdog.

IPOH: Twenty-one families from Kampung Gunung Cheroh who have been denied land titles for the past 80 years have filed a report with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

The report was lodged by village committee chairperson S Mogan, who accused the state government and MIC leaders of abusing their powers.

Those named in the report were the Kinta land office, Perak MIC chief S Veerasingam, state MIC Wanita chief S Thangeswari, developer Fasa Unggul Sdn Bhd and their lawyers.

Thangeswari, a lawyer, had allegedly demanded RM10,000 in legal fees to represent the villagers in the Ipoh High Court case filed by the developer, which is to be heard on March 23.

Mogan had requested for the legal fees to be waived as the villagers are mostly odd-job workers, who cannot afford the high sum.

In his MACC report, Mogan said the developer’s plan allegedly violated a local regulation requiring a 100 metre space between the base of a limestone hill and any form of built structure.

On March 9, a similar police report was made against the above parties at the Ipoh district police headquarters with the assistance of DAP Buntong state assemblyperson A Subramaniam.

The villagers, once strong supporters of MIC, have now turned to Subramaniam and DAP for help.

In 1973, Kampung Gunung Cheroh which is situated at the foot of a limestone was struck by tragedy when a slab of limestone fell and flattened part of the village, killing more than 70 residents.

After this tragedy, many of the villagers who were given compensation moved to other housing areas to settle down.

The remaining 21 families hope to get alternative housing lots with another lot for the relocation of the village’s 70-year-old Hindu temple.