16 May 2021

Press statement by MCA National Youth Committee Member Siew Shen Kae

Petition against inhumane eviction of Orang Asli! Selangor state government must respect basic human rights

The Mah Meri community living in Kampung Orang Asli Bagan Lalang has been served eviction notices by the Pakatan Harapan Selangor state government through Permodalan Negeri Selangor Bhd (PNSB), for the area to be developed into a tourism spot.

According to reports on 20 April, up to 12 Mah Meri families living in the village had been served with eviction notices which ordered them to vacate the land within 30 days.

The decision to develop the area may be just a business opportunity for the Selangor Pakatan state government. However, it completely disrupts the livelihoods of the indigenous people residing in the area.

The Mah Meri people purportedly understand that they do not have absolute rights over the land despite it being their home for 20 years. However, the demand by PNSB to vacate their homeland without any prior negotiations and arrangements is simply inhumane.

Besides that, the issue also raises the question of the value of economic development, compared to the basic human rights of the Mah Meri community.

Undoubtedly, the project will enrich the Selangor state government’s coffers, but only at the expense of the Mah Meri people. Moreover, whether the project will significantly impact the environment also remains unknown.

The Selangor Pakatan state government should at least be responsible for the villagers affected, such as compensating them at market value, providing alternative residence and relevant assistance, instead of only focusing on their own gains.

Hence, I urge everyone who empathise with the Mah Meri villagers to join the petition against the Selangor Pakatan state government, to pressure the Selangor state government and demand an appropriate response. Petition link: http://chng.it/d6QFV58Vzd

Siew Shen Kae

MCA National Youth Committee Member

-MCA Online-