Kg Papan Demolition Enters Third Day Activists Continue To Protest

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The demolition of houses in Kampung Jalan Papan, Pandamaran, has entered its third day today, in what appears to violate the state government’s commitment that only vacant, unoccupied homes would be torn down.
Checks by Malaysiakini as of noon found that four houses, including two that were still occupied, had been demolished.
Earlier, tensions rose when residents, activists, and PSM members blocked developers from demolishing homes that were still inhabited.
PSM deputy chairperson S Arutchelvan was later arrested along with two other individuals, activist M Mythreyar and residents’ representative M Logesvaran.
Speaking to Malaysiakini earlier, Arutchelvan accused the Pakatan Harapan state government of “putting on a show”.
PSM deputy chairperson S Arutchelvan“The menteri besar himself cannot even stand by his words,” he said.
Arutchelvan also accused DAP leaders, including Transport Minister Anthony Loke, Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo, as well as Selangor state executive councillors and assemblypersons, of lacking the courage to speak up.
“The three Harapan menteris besar only know how to make promises but have failed to carry out the decisions made by the Selangor Economic Action Council,” he said.
Selangor state executive councillor Borhan Aman Shah had said last month that demolition work should only be limited to vacant houses and business premises, in line with a “courteous solution that was agreed upon”.
A representative from the developer, who was on site, said they had received instructions to vacate the houses “per what is stated in the court order”.
Malaysiakini has contacted the developer for further response.
‘Respect govt's decision'
Pandamaran assemblyperson Leong Tuck Chee expressed regret over the developer’s decision to proceed with the demolition.
He said he had joined an urgent meeting with the menteri besar on Oct 21, which was also attended by the developer’s representative, the Selangor Housing and Property Board director, and several elected representatives.
During that meeting, he said, it was decided that only unoccupied houses would be demolished while compensation negotiations were ongoing.
“I know the developer has their authority, but they must also respect the state government’s decision,” he told reporters at the scene.
ADSAccording to Leong, there are still 83 occupied houses in the village, which spans about 74 hectares and previously had over 700 homes.
PM must intervene
An activist, who only wished to be known as Yeoh, claimed several officers used force, and that she would lodge a police report over the matter.
“They pulled me out with force, and all of them were men. My hand hurts because they pulled me so hard.
“Because I’m small-sized, it was easy for them to push me to the ground,” the 55-year-old woman told Malaysiakini.
Leong appealed for Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to intervene and suspend the demolition until negotiations between the developer, state government, and residents are concluded.
“The residents just want to leave peacefully, not fight,” he said.
Out of the 83 homes, 44 have obtained interim injunctions. The court is expected to decide on the status of these 44 homes on Dec 8.
- Mkini

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