14th Mac, 2007 , Putrajaya , Palace of Justice – It was an exciting turn of events for the Kg .Rimba Jaya , Shah Alam urban pioneers when , the Federal Court , Putrajaya interestingly pointed out  the irrelevance of the local councils action demolishing Kg.Rimba Jaya on the 6th March , 2007 .
Teng Chang Kim , the lawyer representing the residents of Kg.Rimba Jaya , clearly  pointed out that the land where the Kg.Rimba Jaya peneroka are residing is a private land and the MBSA has  used the Emergency Regulations powers to demolish all the affected 11 houses in the  area of dispute . Teng added that the people have been staying on the land as a ‘ kampung ‘ for  more than 30 years even before the existence of the local council .  The MBSA or Majlis Bandaraya Shah Alam only came into existence in  the year 2000 .
The 3 man bench of Federal Court which heard  the Rimba Jaya case today was participated by Judge  Augustine Paul , Dato Richard Malanjum and one other . Soon after , Teng laid out the case matter , the  learned judges realized the irregularities in the MBSA and  the state governments actions .
” If the Kampung Rimba Jaya existed even before the local council was established , then how can the MBSA declare the Kampung Rimba Jaya illegal squatters ?? questioned , the bench chair, Dato Richard Malanjum . Dato Augustine then quickly  pointed out that , the local council should have requested that the Kampung Rimba Jaya residents houses be regularized first , then only can the local council  determine if the urban pioneers are  squatters or not .Structures and buildings built before  the existence of MBSA and the enforcement of the Local Council Act  cannot be regarded as squatters !
The MBSA lawyers were left speechless when , Dato Richard Malanjum  , asked them ” if you built a house or a extension ,and the local council does not inform you that you have to obtain approval to build the building first , but  suddenly gives you a notice and demolishes your house , wouldn’t you be angry ?! ”
The judges stressed that , when buildings and  houses are built long ago before the existence of local authority , then the local council must  undertake to register and regularize the kampung and not  jump the gun and declare they are squatters and demolish them .
Dato Malanjum also lashed out at the MBSA , for using public money to do dirty work for private land owner . ” Where is the land owner , I don’t see him here ! , Why  has MBSA not brought him as party  to this matter , probably he is in Australia now having vacation while  the MBSA is doing the dirty work ” he said .
As the MBSA lawyers could not advise the bench if  they is any requirement in law that requires kampungs build a long time ago to be regularized and if there is none , what gives the right for the  local council to demolish peoples houses , the chair postponed the matter to 28th March , 2007  to allow both counsels to do their home work .
This new turn of events have given new  hope for not only the Kg.Rimba Jaya urban pioneers but also all peneroka in Selangor . The Federal Court remarks today  will also shut the mouths of the arrogant Selangor State Exco Dato Mokhtar Dahlan , whom confidently suggested affected kampung residents not to seek legal redress as they will certainly lose and the State  Government will forcefully evict them .
Although , the land where the 11 houses of  Rimba Jaya residents stood once has been all fenced up by the developer , but the battle is not over . From the bloody clashes with the  FRU on the 6th March , 2007 , the remaining 270 families have gained experience and  strength to continue the struggle . The Federal Court remark today will certainly  empower them further .
Hidup rakyat !
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