KUALA LUMPUR, June 21 — Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor pleaded today with Kg Chubadak villagers to follow the eviction order served on them to allow the development of new low-cost homes on the 50-year-old Malay heritage land in Sentul.

The Federal Territories minister, popularly known as Ku Nan, noted there were only a handful of villagers who objected to the new housing project, and urged them to be “reasonable” as the land on which their current homes were built belonged to the Lands and Mines Office (PTG).

“The PTG gave the land to develop low-cost houses in the area, and I appeal to the residents, especially the four or five people who are only thinking of themselves, to be reasonable,” the minister was quoted saying by state news agency Bernama. 

“When we develop the low-cost housing, many more people can live there,” he told reporters after launching a dengue-free programme here.

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Tengku Adnan said the federal government was trying to help the villagers with compensation, including setting aside units in the low-cost homes to be built.

He added that it was impossible, however, to agree to the villagers’ claim for plots of land in the area once developed.

The status of the land in Kg Chubadak and neighbouring Kh Chubadak Tambahan is still pending as a result of a High Court case due to be heard on June 27, with villagers insisting that they own the land as urban pioneers.

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A Court of Appeal decision in 2000 had previously refuted claims that the villagers were squatters and trespassers, insisting that they occupied the land as licensees and with the consent of the state authority.

However, Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) went ahead and demolished three houses last Monday as part of a clearing process that had started in 2013 in order to make way for future development.

The demolition was temporarily halted on Thursday, however, after activists and PAS representatives managed to obtain a High Court injunction, staying the demolition until the case is heard.

Kuala Lumpur mayor Datuk Seri Ahmad Phesal Talib also said yesterday DBKL will tear down remaining homes in Kg Chubadak Tambahan despite the injunction prohibiting such action until June 26.