Kampung Setia Jaya residents once again plead for govt intervention

KUALA LUMPUR - Residents of Kampung Setia Jaya here are appealing to leaders and the government to intervene to help the plight of those who will lose their homes.

The residents said they had received a court order last week to vacate their homes within 18 months.

A resident, Zainal Abidin Napi however said they needed more time because the 18-month period set was relatively short.

"I hope the period can be extended so that a fairer discussion with all parties involved can be made," said the 65-year-old who had lived there for 36 years.

The father of eight said this when met after a meeting between residents and former housing and local government minister Datuk Zuraida Kamaruddin at Kampung Setia Jaya here, today.

Also present was Kampung Setia Jaya village chief Noor Sham Din.

Meanwhile, another resident, Ismail Saad, 72, hoped that they would be given adequate compensation following the order to vacate their homes.

Ismail, who was a former soldier insisted that a more fair discussion with the residents should be held because those who lived in the area were not intruders.

He said the compensation should be given to the residents in the form of houses or money because they have no other place to live.

"There are about 90 military veterans, we are former soldiers, but we can only stay in this area, so we need to defend the village.

"If they tell us to move, where could we stay?," said Ismail who was also a fishmonger.

He added that he lived in the village since it first opened.

Another resident, Syafiq Noor Sham, 31, said they will continue to appeal because they have rights as villagers and as urban settlers.

"I am the third generation and I admit we lost in court but we will appeal.

"Eighteen months to vacate Kampung Setia Jaya is unreasonable unless the residents are given houses as promised by the landlord in the original agreement," he said.