Three opposition state assemblypersons were
arrested in Bahau, Negri Sembilan, this morning after they assisted
local villagers in Kampung Gatco to stop the demolition of their rubber
plantation.
They are DAP's Bahau assemblyperson Chew Seh Yong and Senawang assemblyperson P Gunasekaren and PKR's Port Dickson assemblyperson M Ravi.
When contacted, DAP Youth chief Teo Kok Seong, who is also Rasah MP, confirmed with Malaysiakini that his colleagues have been arrested.
More than 200 villagers in a land dispute in Kampung Gatco had gathered since last night in a bid to prevent the demolition of their rubber plantation.
However, a villager who was present told Malaysiakini that some 30 Light Strike Force personnel, backed by more than 100 regular police officers and Rela volunteers, moved in to break up the villagers early this morning.
"The police arrested about 30 people," C Ram Babu told Malaysiakini when contacted.
Ram said the villagers had asked Thamarai Holdings Sdn Bhd, which had purchased the disputed land, to hold off the demolition pending a court decision on March 26, but to no avail.
"The contractors came in to cut down our rubber trees," he said.
Victims of failed scheme
The disputed land, approximately 4,700 acres in size, was leased to The Great Alonioners Trading Corporation Bhd (Gatco) in 1977 by the Negri Sembilan State Economic Development Corporation (SEDC).
Gatco was incorporated by the National Union of Plantation Workers for the purpose of a land development scheme for its members.
The current settlers had paid RM7,600 each as deposit to settle on allocated plots of the land as part of the development scheme.
However, the scheme eventually failed and the land was charged to two financial institutions.
Despite Gatco winding up, its liquidators did not sell the land until 2006, when a sale and purchase agreement was executed between Gatco and Thamarai Holdings Sdn Bhd.
A total of 140 settlers have sued Gatco and Tamarai over the sale and the case is pending before the Federal Court.
They are DAP's Bahau assemblyperson Chew Seh Yong and Senawang assemblyperson P Gunasekaren and PKR's Port Dickson assemblyperson M Ravi.
When contacted, DAP Youth chief Teo Kok Seong, who is also Rasah MP, confirmed with Malaysiakini that his colleagues have been arrested.More than 200 villagers in a land dispute in Kampung Gatco had gathered since last night in a bid to prevent the demolition of their rubber plantation.
However, a villager who was present told Malaysiakini that some 30 Light Strike Force personnel, backed by more than 100 regular police officers and Rela volunteers, moved in to break up the villagers early this morning.
"The police arrested about 30 people," C Ram Babu told Malaysiakini when contacted.
Ram said the villagers had asked Thamarai Holdings Sdn Bhd, which had purchased the disputed land, to hold off the demolition pending a court decision on March 26, but to no avail.
"The contractors came in to cut down our rubber trees," he said.
Victims of failed scheme
The disputed land, approximately 4,700 acres in size, was leased to The Great Alonioners Trading Corporation Bhd (Gatco) in 1977 by the Negri Sembilan State Economic Development Corporation (SEDC).
Gatco was incorporated by the National Union of Plantation Workers for the purpose of a land development scheme for its members.
The current settlers had paid RM7,600 each as deposit to settle on allocated plots of the land as part of the development scheme.
However, the scheme eventually failed and the land was charged to two financial institutions.
Despite Gatco winding up, its liquidators did not sell the land until 2006, when a sale and purchase agreement was executed between Gatco and Thamarai Holdings Sdn Bhd.
A total of 140 settlers have sued Gatco and Tamarai over the sale and the case is pending before the Federal Court.
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