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A Response From KeADILan Regarding Selangor's "Zero Squatters" Policy

The criticism regarding the Selangor Menteri Besar's statement that his administration will continue with the "Zero Squatters" policy of the previous Barisan Nasional administration has generally been justified, especially in view of the previous administrations horrendous human rights record in implementing the policy. Forced evictions and the use of violent force was normative and this has been amply recorded in cases like Kampung Berembang and Kampung Padang Jawa.

KeADILan's Youth Wing recently released a statement committing towards a humane and equitable approach towards achieving the "Zero Squatters" goal. Knowing some of the people who are in the middle of this PR boo boo, and also seeing how they have, in the past, stood up for the rights of squatters and urban settlers who have been violently evicted, I would like to give them the benefit of the doubt. Their full statement, in Malay, reads :

AMK: Setinggan Sifar Perlu Dicapai Untuk Kepentingan Negara dan Rakyat

Angkatan Muda Keadilan Malaysia menyokong kenyataan Dato’ Menteri Besar Selangor, Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim untuk Selangor mencapai matlamat setinggan sifar seperti yang disiarkan dalam temubual oleh portal internet Malaysiakini.

Namun Angkatan Muda Keadilan Malaysia kesal dengan kenyataan beberapa pihak yang mengandaikan bahawa Kerajaan Negeri Selangor yang dipimpin keADILan akan bertindak dengan cara yang sama seperti tindakan tidak berperikemanusiaan semasa Selangor di bawah Dato’ Seri Mohd Khir Toyo. Adalah zalim untuk menganggap bahawa peneroka bandar perlu dibiarkan dalam keadaan mereka sekarang tanpa sebarang usaha untuk mengiktiraf hak dan pegangan mereka secara sah ke atas tanah yang didiami atau ke atas tanah lain yang bersesuaian dengan keperluan kehidupan mereka. Persoalan pampasan, peluang pekerjaan dan sebagainya perlu diberikan perhatian utama di dalam sebarang usaha pembangunan.

Angkatan Muda Keadilan Malaysia percaya Dato’ Menteri Besar Selangor akan mencari jalan terbaik yang adil dan manusiawi untuk memastikan para peneroka bandar dapat keluar daripada status ‘setinggan’ mereka. Setiap rakyat Selangor perlu diberi peluang yang adil untuk memiliki hartanah dan pada masa yang sama hak pemilik tanah dihormati dan diberi peluang untuk membangunkan hartanah mereka.

Ini ‘keseimbangan’ yang perlu dicari seperti yang dinyatakan oleh Tan Sri Abdul Khalid. Kerajaan perlu memainkan peranan utama dengan bertanggungjawab dan penyayang. Pada masa yang sama, syarikat-syarikat perlu berperanan sebagai warga korporat yang prihatin. Malah sebelum ini Tan Sri Abdul Khalid telah pernah mengemukakan idea-idea inovatif untuk memastikan rakyat termiskin sekalipun mampu memiliki hartanah, termasuk melalui skim pembiayaan jangka panjang inter-generasi sehingga 60 tahun.

Angkatan Muda Keadilan Malaysia percaya Dato’ Menteri Besar Selangor dan Kerajaan Negeri akan mengemukakan pelan komprehensif untuk mencapai matlamat setinggan sifar yang akan dilaksanakan. Sebarang cadangan dan komen sekarang sudah tentu akan membantu. Namun ia perlu dikemukakan melalui saluran yang betul dan membina.

Ahmad Zaki Yamani bin Zainon
Setiausaha Angkatan Muda Keadilan Malaysia

I believe that civil society in Malaysia realises that a lot of Malaysians are generally illiterate when it comes to framing statements from a rights based perspective. It gets even worst when it comes to implementation.

Nonetheless, with this new administration in place, one that got elected based on a rhetoric of justice and egalitarian liberalism, perhaps a positive engagement can be achieved. Civil society might also need to adapt their engagement methodology in view of the new realities. The confrontational approach, while generally still important and required in certain circumstances, ought to be exercised less liberally and efforts made towards establishing dialogue and a consultative process. This could also be a good opportunity to educate and increase awareness among the constituent parties regarding a rights based approach in crisis management and problem solving.

I hope I am not proven wrong but I strongly believe that the new non Barisan Nasional administrations would be better disposed towards civil society and more open towards a consultative process in dealing with some of the more contentious problems that our society faces. Otherwise, I am afraid I may have put my lot on the wrong party for the last decade or so.

Buy me a coffeeIf you liked this post, consider buying me some coffee. Suggested price is $1.00 for a cup and $10.00 for a 1 lbs bag (personally I am a big fan of Ethiopian Yirgacheffe).
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Posted by Bob K on March 28, 2008 6:51 PM  | Trackback
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This page contains a single entry from the blog posted on March 28, 2008 6:51 PM.

The previous post in this blog was Putting An Urban Legend To Rest.

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