E Contrario

I received a sms at 06:00hr this morning (30 Oct) informed that FRU, Town Council enforcement unit, police and other uniformed personnels have besieged Kg Rimba Jaya. It appeared to a massive demolition exercise.

Kg Rimba is a settlement in Klang. It is located next to Kg Padang Jawa. Like many of the settlements, they are classified as illegal squatters when the government got hooked up with developers.

I recalled the last attempt of demolition in March this year. It was the same day as the assault on Kg Berembang, where I was arrested. I heard later that many people in Kg Rimba Jaya were injured, assaulted and arrested. I even met a young chap from Kg Rimba Jaya in the lock up of the Ampang Police Station. He was in a cell next to my and he was slightly injured.

Today demolition was more peaceful. Under heavy intimidation, the kampong folks consented to pull down their own houses. The enforcement unit of Klang Town Council gave the 200 over families till 14:00hr to clear off their belongings and all buildings.

When I reached the kampong, it was about 10:30hr. The armed police already cordoned the entire area. I was accompanied by Razak in a car. Contrary to popular belief, I am not in a habit of running through the barricade. So we followed a tip from our KeADILan members in the kampong and took a passage via Kg Padang Jawa Mosque.

When we got in, most of the houses were already half dismantled. We were taken on motorcycles to cruise around. I always got distressed seeing such massive destruction in demolition cases. The place was full of wreck, like a field just been shelled with bombs. It was then I realized the stretch of the kampong. It was vast, and I can be sure that politicians and businessmen are making big bug out of this.

The only contention was the places of worship. I first went to visit the Hindu Temple. The residents were already assembled in the half smashed up temple.

The angry crowd complained to me the rancor behavior of the enforcement personnels. Not too long after, a Hindraf activist walked in. He spoke to the crowd who responded cheers. The residents were in very bitter mood. I could fully understand. Deepavali is just next week. Raya season was hardly over. Many children are sitting for examination now.

The temple, which I was told has one hundred years of history, was a symbol of the community’s survival. The residents vowed to defend their temple.

On the other end was a Surau Al-Ijtimaiah. The Surau Committee went through lengthy discussion and decided to dismantle by themselves so that the woods and other material could be reused. They arranged for the material to be sent to a religious school in Puchong for construction of new classrooms.

By noon, Dr Hatta Ramli too arrived. The Surau Committee appealed for help. Dr Hatta and I were ‘appointed’ to represent the residents to negotiate with the officer-in-charge for extra time. This request was finally accepted.

After lunchtime prayer, the Surau committee and volunteers proceeded to dismantle the surau. This went on relatively smoothly.

Nonetheless, conflict broke out at the Hindu temple in the afternoon. I left the kampong about 14:00hr. The FRU, council officers, police, etc. forcefully demolish the temple. This drew many residents and supporters to congregate at the temple.

I heard Samy Vellu also came and got hit by water canon. I am glad that Samy has also tasted this nice experience.

The Surau before demolition

A kindergarten belonged to the Hindu Temple was demolished