Confronting UMNO Seputeh squatters
Tuesday, 07-02-2006
On Friday, the sixth day of Chinese New Year, I called a press conference at Jalan Kuchai Lama, near the Seputeh UMNO service centre cum Operation Centre of Seputeh BN.
The so-called Service Center of Seputeh UMNO is obstructing the construction of two public roads, the DBKL flyover, and the other flyover that’s supposed to be built by Road Builders to connect the Sungai Besi Highway to New Pantai Expressway at the juncture of Jalan Kuchai Lama.
Work on the DBKL flyover started around August 2004 and it was supposed to be completed by this June but the project was stalled because Seputeh UMNO refused to move out of its office and it is now like an illegal roadblock to frustrate construction.
Seputeh UMNO Division used to be an arrogant and stubborn law breaker. The building is situated on state land, making it an illegal building, or a squatter.
When the former Seputeh UMNO Division Chief Tengku Adnan held the position of Minister in PM’s Department that oversees FT, the Seputeh UMNO turned from a small pondok to a mini palace with massive—probably illegal—rennovation.
I have raised the squatter status of Seputeh UMNO building with Tengku Adnan many times in the Parliament. Each time when he said that the government was determined to materialise “Zero Squatters” in year 2005 in the Parliament, I would criticise him about Seputeh UMNO and ask him when will the building of Seputeh UMNO be removed. I am not impressed to see that the building is still at the same site and openly obstructing the construction of the DBKL project.
I led our members to hold a protest banner at the entrance of the Seputeh UMNO building as requested by the photographers from Malay and Chinese dailies, as well as the cameraman of NTV7. Our action was noticed by a Umno squatter inside the building.
He then came out and looked for his UMNO squatter buddies and came after us. They wanted to grab our banner, but we refused to surrender it to him. A member, Chee Kok Fah, shouted at them that they have no right to ask for our banner as they were not police. The UMNO squatter replied with vulgar words. Chee then demanded he retract his filthy comments and both parties have serious exchanges of words at the road side. Journalists and photographers who were supposed to leave together with us gathered to watch the follow-up episode.
The deputy chief of Seputeh UMNO Youth then claimed that they wanted to move but they were waiting for PM’s Department to build them a new premise at Taman Desa.
When the press asked him about the exact location of his new premise, he could not answer.
Those who stay in Taman Desa should know that the property and land in Taman Desa is so expensive, how can PM’s Department build a premise for an UMNO Division? Isn’t that an abuse of public funds?
I have been told Seputeh UMNO demanded DBKL to look for an office for them and pay the rent for them, but it was rejected by DBKL. As a result, these guys refused to move and continue to obstruct the construction of the flyover which which would benefit the people whom these local squatters profess to represent.
DBKL can use the bulldozer to smash this illegal structure like the way they did to many squatter settlements that obstruct public or government construction projects.
But DBKL dare not touch the Seputeh UMNO structure as they are from UMNO and they were backed by high ranking elected reps in the government. Just imagine if that structure was built by DAP. Will a government agency like DBKL tolerate us and even allow us to obstruct construction of public road?
I wouldn’t blame DBKL officers too much as they are facing local warlords with backing right to the top. I blame the high ranking UMNO politicians for allowing their own members to obstruct government projects. This is a form of abuse of power and corruption.
It is also sad for me to see that my press conference on this issue only appeared in the NTV7 Mandarin news and Chinese dailies.
Kosmo and Berita Harian sent their reporters to cover my press conference but they did not carry the story.
Is that because the editors of these two dailies are afraid to publish this ridiculous and unruly behaviour of UMNO Seputeh?
Miss Kok, I think everyone knows the answer to your question regarding what if the Building was occupied by DAP. The Government should not compensate UMNO Seputeh as UMNO is a rich party with its own funds. Let the UMNO HQ pay for its own relocation. If they are short of funds (as property in Taman Desa is quite expensive), I believe that Kuchai Business Park has many vacant shoplots available at a lower price.
Comment by preacher — Tuesday, 07-02-2006 @ 15: 49.20
I wonder, in the first place, since this is UMNO and Ketuanan Melayu and all that, how come they could not build a palace on goverment land properly allocated to them (after consulting development master plan) but built an illegal building obstructing future development?
This shows how good we are at planning our town, roads, drains etc.
They should have been given priorty to choose where they wanted to in the first place so all this hoo ha should not happen at all.
Maybe because good fengshui, cannot move the office, otherwise bad fengshui? ?????
Also, why Berita Harian did not report the rowdy behaviour? I suppose only the bad things happening in the Chinese, Tamil and foreign communities get reported in that paper, am I right? Correct me if I am wrong.
Comment by lee wee tak_ — Tuesday, 07-02-2006 @ 16: 05.07
Haiz~~
Those kind of people will not ‘touch’ their own people.
Thats why, the news only appear on those ‘real’ news provider.
No offence but, thats how I see it.
Adios.
Comment by KenAragorn — Tuesday, 07-02-2006 @ 17: 46.50
All other occupants along that stretch of Jln Kuchai Lama, for instance, the second hand car dealers, have since relocated elsewhere except for this UMNO service centre.
It is now sticking out like a sore thumb, amid all the development and roadworks around it. DBKL should treat it like any other illegal squatters in KL, if ample notice is given and still has not moved, just bulldoze the place!!
Comment by normal joe — Tuesday, 07-02-2006 @ 18: 21.16
Looks like the PM’s pledge to clean up the country and get rid of corruption is not going to be matched with the same action, “cakap tak serupa bikin?”
Comment by virgorat — Tuesday, 07-02-2006 @ 23: 11.28
Dear Teresa,
Good job by leading your comrades to protest against the illegal occupation of JKR road reserve.The UMNO Seputeh illegal palace is actually a stumbling block to the development of roadwork going on within the vicinity.The building really stand out because all others illegal occupants like the second hand car dealers have obediently move out.What do you expect when you are dealing with someone higher in power than DBKL.Well, we are all living in BOLEHLAND.
Comment by yeahwho — Wednesday, 08-02-2006 @ 00: 36.11
Seputeh is a very build up area and also very expensive now. Even if there is land available, many people want to take gravy for any project so very difficult to pass.
Comment by Bigjoe — Wednesday, 08-02-2006 @ 14: 09.04
Of course the current UMNO illegal building has a very good fengshui. It’s creating problem for our YB Teresa.
Keep up the good work YB and continue to protest their illegal occupance. Next election, more people will know who to vote!!
Comment by viking — Wednesday, 08-02-2006 @ 17: 11.43
Can the rakyat file suit against UMNO Seputeh? Since the rakyat is also the grieved party in this case. So, file a summary hearing to evict those warlords.
If the DBKL have no balls to do what is right, they should just resign en block.
Comment by carboncopy — Wednesday, 08-02-2006 @ 20: 35.12
Had a nightmare last nite. That illegal building was actually DAP service centre. I was strolling around then I saw the Malaysian Elite Commandos hunkered in a ditch, calling in a air strike.
Some stealth bomber came by and dropped a laser guided 2000kg missle and boom! the ricket signboard was blown to bits.
All I can say is it was a ridiculous nightmare.
Comment by lee wee tak_ — Thursday, 09-02-2006 @ 08: 26.07
Mayor of KL and President of DBKL are appointed by BN (meaning UMNO). So what do you expect? This building will be there until the rakyat or Road Builders pay millions to UMNO
Comment by Gentleman — Thursday, 09-02-2006 @ 22: 08.24
They can pay hundred millions to re-route the entire highway just to preserve a Mosque. Are they trying to do similar for pondok UMNO?
Malaysia boleh!
Comment by lithoc — Friday, 10-02-2006 @ 10: 25.01
We appreciate the good work for exposing all these real criminals out there.Without this blog i think my family and i including my friends will not know about such an incident.KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK…...!!
Comment by sean — Saturday, 11-02-2006 @ 00: 54.50
BLOG SETUP FOR YOUR DIRECT COMMENTS ON JPM
Comment by MY-JPM-BLOG — Sunday, 12-02-2006 @ 12: 29.37
no wonder umno not happy with the top guy at dbkl who wants to stop political patronage in civil service. umno really thinks their the boss of the government just because they’re the ruling party (store this up as another example of umno abuse of power for the next election!). an umno division centre at taman desa? ewwwwww! i live there!! this place is already developed to the hilt. where would they be placed? hopefully where there’s bad fengshui. i don’t think anyone in taman desa would support umno. blearghhhh!
Comment by Sieweng — Monday, 13-02-2006 @ 06: 43.44
actually, in our society, it is still “feudal” in thinking. Subconcious or otherwise. Anyone with a bit of authority seems to have a bit of “daulat”, rather than fiduciary stewardship where government servants, are servants!
Comment by lee wee tak_ — Monday, 13-02-2006 @ 13: 56.51