12 opposing demolition of houses in Mantin arrested

Twelve villagers and activists in Kampung Hakka in Mantin, Negri Sembilan, including the village head, were arrested by police today as they tried to stop a developer from demolishing their houses.

Armed with a High Court order, the developer moved in this morning to demolish the village where about 40 families live, with the residents objecting on grounds that they are appealing the court decision.
On its Facebook page, the residents claimed they had already filed an appeal to the High Court decision and was hoping that the court could possibly hear the appeal as soon as possible to grant a stay.

The Seremban High Court has ordered their eviction as their temporary occupation licence had expired.

This was despite the residents, who comprise of 40 families, claiming they had been staying on the land for more than 100 years and have been paying quit rent and land assessment tax.

According to Jerit activist S Parames, the developer and the authorities had earlier this month demolished two houses in Kampung Hakka and they have not been paid any compensation.

Following this, she said the villagers have since been trying to prevent them from tearing down the other houses.

"As a result, eight villagers and activists who tried to stop today's demolition were detained by the police.

“They included village head Chong Tza Yew. Four people who went to the Mantin police station to help those detained were also arrested by the police,” Parames said, adding that the appeal was still pending and she could not understand why the developer had moved in.

Lived there for five generations

She said the villagers have been living in Kampung Hakka for five generations, on a piece of state government land that has since been sold to a property developer to build the new Mantin township.
Of the 12 arrested, seven of them are residents of Kampung Hakka, while five of them are Jerit activists.

Jerit or Jaringan Pekerja Malaysia is a non-governmental organisation affiliated to PSM.

Parames said the investigating officer had just arrived at the scene from the Nilai district police station.

The villagers are lodging separate police reports against the Mantin police station chief for unlawful arrest.

Chief Inspector Rashid Kasim, the officer in charge of the Mantin police station, when contacted confirmed the arrests.

Rashid said those arrested are being investigated for encroachment into private property and also for preventing the police from conducting their duties.

“An investigating officer has been appointed to investigate. That is all that I can say,” he added.