AFTER residing for over 45 years in Jelutong, Penang, retired salesman Chan Chin Hock, 65, and his family are now facing eviction by a developer who is also the landowner.
Chan said he was slapped with a legal letter on the matter by the developer to attend court on Thursday.
“My family just want a fair compensation, like a house for a house. The people here are not rich, and my family were offered only RM30,000 as compensation,” he added.
His family was among 88 squatter families affected by the development.
Jelutong MP Jeff Ooi told a press conference recently that 58 families had been issued legal notices on separately dates to attend court.
“I have arranged for a lawyer to defend them. Up to now, three have not received the notices, 10 decided to engage their own lawyers and one decided to vacate after accepting compensation,” he added.
The remaining 16 have decided to accept the compensation quantum.
Ooi claimed that the developer had disregarded the law by demolishing some of the squatters’ houses without prior approval from the Penang Municipal Council (MPPP).
“The mess from the demolished squatters was also left uncleared, posing danger to the residents living nearby,” he said.
Council officers from the Town and Country Planning Department and Health Department were present to conduct investigation into the matter.
Water samples from several sites in the area were also taken to check if the area was a mosquito breeding ground.
A representative of the developer declined to comment when asked about the issue. - The Star
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