SHAH ALAM – Gombak Setia assemblyman Hilman Idham will hold a press conference tomorrow to address the Selangor government's alleged demolition of houses in Kg Sri Makmur earlier today.
Hilman said he, along with relevant parties, had met with residents' representatives and agreed to convene a meeting at 2pm at the Seri Makmur Village Hall in Gombak.
The purpose is to address concerns about the scheduled demolition.
"Despite my efforts to mediate, the demolition by the state government is regrettable.
"I previously raised this issue in the State Assembly and facilitated a meeting between residents and the Menteri Besar (Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari)," Hilman told Sinar Daily when contacted today.
Hilman also slammed the forceful tactics reportedly used by the authorities, which allegedly resulted in injuries among residents.
Residents Dispute Relocation Timeline
The demolition follows the eviction of residents from Kg Sri Makmur who were awaiting approval of housing loans for promised replacement homes under the Selangorku programme.
According to media reports, residents say they were open to relocating but need time until their loans are approved.
The promise of new homes stemmed from a meeting between state government representatives and the Sri Makmur Residents' Association last year.
Residents expressed concerns about the allocation of Selangorku houses and the RM1,000 compensation offered, particularly with the short notice to vacate (three days) before loan approval for their new homes in Sri Temenggung.
The Residents' Association had previously requested RM10,000 compensation per family from the Selangor State Development Corporation (PKNS) on Feb 9 but only received RM1,000.
While some received this compensation, it is considered inadequate for securing temporary housing due to high rental costs in the area.
Social Media Divided on Residents' Response
Social media users expressed mixed reactions to the situation.
Some criticised the residents' reluctance to relocate despite repeated notices to vacate the land.
Others questioned the timing of the residents' concerns and argued that the government had planned the development for years.
One user, @syajared, commented, "Even if they lived there for 200 years, it's not their land. They had ample time to find alternative housing."
Another user, @HashimNguyen, urged readers to consider the whole story.
"PKNS might have a legitimate case," they wrote.
However, users like @sjnrdn argued that the residents deserved sympathy.
"They've been living there for a long time, and the short notice to relocate creates hardship," they commented.