SHAH ALAM - Twenty-seven land estate owners from Ladang Rini, Johor Bahru are appealing to their MP, Lim Kit Siang to help them fullfill a promise left abandoned by MIC since 1979.
Former resident EK Subaramaniyam claims that his family and other former residents of Ladang Rini estate have lost their land to Koperasi Pekerja Jaya Berhad (KPJ).
It is believed back then, 36 former residents of Ladang Rini bought six acres of land from their farm manager at RM18,000 (or about RM3,000 per acre) to build their homes.
Due to a lack of knowledge over land purchase, lot subdivision and the construction process, MIC representatives suggested to the land owners to refer the case to Datuk Seri Samy Vellu (who was the former chief of MIC) for further advice and assistance.
Subaramaniyam claimed after several discussions, Samy Vellu and KPJ's secretary along with a few other KPJ members visited Ladang Rini estate in 1978 and were promised that a semi-detached terrace house worth RM25,000 will be built for each owner.
But after the visit, the estate land owners were told that KPJ was finding it difficult to build the homes, he added.
"They suggested the easiest way was to register the land under KPJ. We agreed by giving them our grant. But now almost 44 years, there's no further action taken by Samy Vellu or KPJ," he told Sinar Daily after a protest.
Since KPJ was newly established back then without sufficient resources, the land owners were also asked to collect funds and were promised to receive low-cost homes for all former owners of Ladang Rini.
Soon after, Subaramaniyam and other land owners demanded KPJ to build their homes but their request was ignored.
"We have been raising the long-standing housing issue at MIC's annual general meeting (AGM) every year but MIC and KPJ say they face financial constraints to develop the land.
"We once asked to hand over the land back to us but KPJ told us that it could not be done as the transfer of ownership on Ladang Rini project was completed," he said in frustration.
They then formed a committee to pressure KPJ to build homes for them.
"They eventually offered us RM35,000 to RM50,000 compensation to each land owner. However, nine of them accepted the compensation but the remaining owners have refused it," he said.
This is because the recent land evaluation shows their land was now worth RM7.8 million in total and due to that they are demanding for RM200,000 per acre.
Thoroughly frustrated with MIC, the affected owners are now seeking Lim Kit Siang's help to settle their six-acre land issues.
"We want KPJ to pay each family RM200,000 as compensation. "If they failed to do so, we request for free homes to 36 families and to those who do not agree to KPJ's offer. "Or give back our land," said Subaramaniyam.
Sinar Daily is contacting MIC Johor for comments.