Thursday, March 15, 2007

Legalise UMNO’s containers– DAP Selangor to pursue

DAP Selangor would like to register our strongest disagreement against the MPSJ’s decision to legalise the cabins squatting on open spaces and we will fully pursue the issue to fight for the legitimate rights of the residents.

The issue was reported in today’s The Sun as front page report which quoted the President of Subang Jaya Municipal Council (MPSJ) as saying that the Council has already approved the legalized cabins placed illegally in open spaces by issuing them temporary permits which are valid till end of the year.

The information we received that about 30 residents from Bandar Bukit Puchong from BBP Section 3 have signed to protest against two illegally placed cabins on Jalan BBP 3/4 as UMNO temporary offices. The cabins are said to have occupied the place for 8 months. There is another cabin in Jalan BBP 3/8.

Lawyer representing the residents Mr Eugene Mark told the press that when the residents launched a signature campaign to protest against the illegal cabins, they were assaulted and harassed by a group of thugs consisted of 20 men who claimed that they were from UMNO Bukit Puchong. The residents have sought help from Gerakan MP for Puchong Lau Yan Peng but he failed to turn up to provide assistance.

We fail to understand why MPSJ could make such a u-turn to legalise the cabins and not taking any actions against the law-breakers. Moreover, the council and Selangor MB have previously claimed that the owners of the cabins must apply Temporary Occupancy License (TOL) before they can squat their cabins in open spaces.

The council has put up a reason that ‘only a small group of residents protested’. Actually the problem at it’s first hand is not so much about the number of residents protested by of whether the council has followed proper procedure before they decided to legalise the cabins.

And now the council claimed that the requirement of TOL is only applicable on “permanent structures, made of concrete with parking lots and so on and that these cabins are mobile and easily removable. We want to know why the council president could make such a drastic changes in stand? Are there any political pressure? If yes, then who exert the pressure? Is this person so strong until Puchong MP Lau Yan Peng can succumb to him?

Lau Yan Peng as Puchong MP should know that he is a people representative elected by majority of the people and he shall take up the case without fear or favour. Is he depending on the UMNO to ensure he can defend his seat under BN ticket for the next general election? If this is the case, Lau Yan Peng shall step down as he is no longer credible as an elected MP.

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