Last Updated: 6:39pm, Jun 12, 2013
PETALING JAYA (June 12): Five members of Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) were detained yesterday for attempting to stop several Pahang state departments from evicting roadside vendors and demolishing their stalls Kea farm in Cameron Highlands.
When contacted, PSM Cameron Highlands secretary Suresh Kumar told fz.com that the PSM members were arrested under Section 186 of the Penal Code for obstructing civil servants from carrying out their duties.
They were arrested at 3pm yesterday and released at 1.30am this morning.
Suresh said PSM members had gathered at the area since yesterday morning to stop officers from several Pahang state departments, including the Cameron Highlands district office and the Pahang Land and Mines Department, from evicting traders in the area.
Some of the PSM members were also injured in the fracas that ensued with the state enforcement officers, he added.
PSM immediately lodged several police reports on the harassment by the enforcement officers.
The eviction due to upcoming development in the area.
Suresh alleged the authorities were acting on behalf of developer Signature Landmark Property Sdn Bhd.
He said the eviction was due to the slated development of a commercial area Aranda Nova on the nearby land.
"The traders have licences to operate in the area and some of the vendors have been conducting their business there for the past 20 years,” he said.
Aranda Nova is a mixed development project consisting of a hotel, serviced apartments and commercial units on a 5.54-acre leasehold piece of land. Its developer is Signature Landmark Property Sdn Bhd.
When contacted, an officer from the Cameron Highlands district and land office who declined to be revealed said the issue was a longstanding one.
“We had served the vendors many notices to evict the area and we also had discussions with them,” he said, adding the notices were served since 2010.
He said the authorities had already provided them a new place to be relocated, which is located nearer to Brinchang town.
According to previous media reports, the traders were not satisfied with the new area as there is a lack of parking spots and is located by a road bend.
Suresh said some traders are willing to be relocated, provided the facilities at the new area are better than the present location.
“But there is another group who do not want to move, because they say they will not affect the development project,” he added.
He said about seven traders will meet Pahang Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob this Friday to seek a resolution.
Read more: http://fz.com/content/5-
