KUALA LUMPUR: Residents of Kampung Setia Jaya in Taman Melati, Kuala Lumpur, will be able to stay put in their homes while their relocation issue is being ironed out.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Dr Zaliha Mustafa said the decision was reached after a discussion with TARC Education Foundation.
She said the meeting was held recently and involved representatives from TARC Education Foundation, the landowner.
“Overall, it was a positive discussion, and I am confident the issue can be resolved amicably after it was delayed for 30 years.
“TARC Education Foundation has, in principle, stated that it has no objection to residents staying on while the issue is being ironed out,” she said in a statement on Thursday (Dec 28).
During the meeting, Dr Zaliha also discussed the issue of replacement housing for the residents, which needed urgent attention.
It was also attended by Wangsa Maju MP Zahir Hassan and Datuk Azman Abidin, political secretary of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Dr Zaliha said the discussion also focused on the issue of house replacement for residents, which will be detailed later.
“Follow-up discussions will be held to ensure this issue can be resolved as soon as possible,” she said.
On Dec 11, the Kuala Lumpur High Court ordered the villagers to vacate their houses and gave them 18 months to do so. The court finds TARC Education Foundation the legal owner of the land on which the village stands.
Meanwhile, Zahir, at a separate press conference, said that residents can now breathe a sigh of relief with the positive feedback from the TARC Education Foundation.
He also expressed hope that the issue would not be politicised by any parties.
“This is a housing issue and the issue of the well-being of the residents and their families. Let’s not politicise it,” he said.
