Villagers angry over land
Kuala Krai - ABOUT 200 squatter families residing in Kampung Sungai Durian in Kuala Krai, Kelantan, led by the village headman, have accused the state of not alienating land to them to build homes despite having paid up to RM8,000 each to authorities.
With patience running thin, the group approached Mengkebang assemblyman Azizzuddin Hussein over their grouses, but the problem remained unresolved despite it being raised at the Kelantan state legislative assembly sitting last year.
Village headman Rosli Hammad, 43, claimed that 200 families had paid RM2,000 each as deposits to the Kuala Krai Land Office for an average of one acre to build their homes.
The cost of the land offered to them merely RM3,500 before the 1999 general election.
However, Rosli claimed that Land Office officials came by demanding more payments until the sum reached up to RM8,000.
Rosli said the land offer was made by state representatives in 1997 to relocate them from their present squatter homes.
It is hard-earned income that came through toiling as rubber tappers, and we are unhappy that the state is yet to resolve the problem, Rosli told a press conference.
One of the alleged victims, Mat Ariffin Ahmad, 57, said his mother paid about RM6,000 to the Land Office but there was no sign of the land.
Asked why they did not approach the state or Land Office earlier, the villagers said they were simple folk who did not know whom to refer the matter to until someone notified Azizzuddin.
We frequently asked officials where the land was located but were given the run around. They told us to ask former (Kuala Krai) MP Mohamed Nasir Che Daud, Mat Ariffin said.
Azizzuddin said he raised the matter at the assembly sitting last October but had not received any response.
He urged state land authorities to investigate the matter, adding that if the land said to be alienated from an oil palm estate was unavailable, they should refund the money.
When contacted, Deputy Mentri Besar Datuk Ahmad Yaacob, who is also state land committee chairman, promised to find an amicable solution to the problem. //Thestar 28 Sept
Yahoo! for Good
Click here to donate to the Hurricane Katrina relief effort.
| Florist malaysia | Malaysia hotel | Kelantan |
YAHOO! GROUPS LINKS
- Visit your group "perakan" on the web.
- To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
- Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.
