State assemblymen came for rescue...

Demolition of houses stopped
Star - Residents of Kampung Buah Pala had a rude shock yesterday when a group of men, under police escort, came to demolish their houses.

Residents said the men, numbering about 30, came about 9am with bulldozers.

However, three state assemblymen intervened and prevented the men from demolishing the houses.

J. Steven, secretary of the action committee in Kampung Buah Pala, claimed the contractor had sent gangsters to demolish their houses.

"There was no notice or court order given to us, and the matter is still pending in court.
"How can they just come and demolish our houses like that? It is not proper," he said.

Another committee member, M. Santha, said they had brought the matter up with the previous state government but their pleas fell on deaf ears.

"We have taken up our plight with Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng and he has promised to look into the matter," he said.

Seri Delima assemblyman R.S.N. Rayer, who was at the scene along with Batu Uban assemblyman S. Raveentharan and Batu Maung assemblyman Abdul Malek Kassim, said it was not right for the contractor to demolish the houses.

He said discussions were still ongoing with the district officer over the 2.6ha land.