Minister calls offer 'good', but residents want terrace houses

PUTRAJAYA: Human Resources Minister Dr S Subramaniam has urged the Bukit Jalil residents to accept the new offer from the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL). However, a representative of the residents, K Balakrishnan, said they want terrace houses and not the low-cost flat units offered to the 41 families.

One of the families had accepted the offer to purchase the RM80,000 flat unit at a discounted price of RM35,000.

Balakrishnan also denied that the minister had met the former estate workers 16 times, saying that there was only one meeting between them.

“The last we met him was on Aug 2. During that meeting, Subramaniam said he cannot help us regarding the planned demolition of our houses,” he told FMT.

The DBKL had made the new offer after the residents refused to budge from their homes. They vowed to fight against the demolition even if it meant facing the police's anti-riot personnel.

On Thursday, the residents sent a memorandum to the Prime Minister's Office and several others asking that they be given more time to consider the new offer.

Time extension

Following this, Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak had instructed that the demolition be put on hold until an amicable solution was found.

Meanwhile, Balakrishnan said by asking for a time extension, it did not mean that the residents would be taking up the offer.

“Our request has always been for terrace houses similar to the ones given to the former Kinrara estate workers. Are we not qualified to own terrace houses?” he asked.

During a press conference yesterday, Subramaniam said his ministry was willing to negotiate with the residents.

He added that his ministry was prepared to work with the Federal Territories and Urban Well-Being Ministry to resolve this issue.

As for the new offer made by DBKL, Subramaniam said: “It is a good offer and sould be accepted by the residents.”

FMT
08/08/10

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