Standoff at Bukit Rajah

A group of the former Bukit Rajah estate workers are protesting against the demolition of their homes by the developer of the former estate.

UPDATED

PETALING JAYA: The planned demolition of houses and a temple at the former Bukit Rajah estate today resulted in a standoff between ex-estate workers and the developer and owner of the land, Sime Darby Development.

The unhappy residents have blocked off access to the houses, not allowing demolition equipment by the developer to be brought in.

The Bukit Rajah Palm Oil Mill estate located three miles from Meru, in Klang, is owned by Sime Darby Development, who now want to develop the land by demolishing the former estate houses and a 70-year old Hindu temple in the process.

Presently about 10 police officers, Rela members and several people claiming to be from the media are at the site. Some grassroot political leaders and representatives of non-governmental organisations are negotiating with the developer to put off the demolition plans.

The developer had originally planned to start demolition work from 8.30am today.

The Bukit Rajah Palm Oil Mill, was bought over by Sime Darby Development in 1993. Since then, the former estate workers have demanded that the developer builds houses for them as compensation to vacate the land.

They had also filed a case against the developer and a few years ago Sime Darby identified a piece of land to construct houses for the former estate workers.

FMT learns that the houses for the estate workers have yet to be completed although it was due in Jan, this year.

Currently, there are 25 families staying in the estate.

Meanwhile as at 3pm, the developer has three bulldozers on stand-by to demolish the houses. FMT learns that they were awaiting court bailiffs to arrive to clear the confusion.

The former estate workers, on the other hand, are making a last ditch attempt to obtain an injunction from the courts to stop the demolition.

They are also upset with Tenaga Nasional Bhd which has disconnected power to the former estate today without prior notice.

There was a minor commotion between TNB officers and former estate workers when TNB employees wanted to cut the electricity supply.

The former plantation workers also took both Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat indian leaders to task for “washing their hands” from the issue.