| Residents march to City Hall with empty pails to protest threats to cut off their water if they do not settle their bills.
Twenty residents from the Taman Wahyu public housing scheme gathered in front of the KL City Hall headquarters today, armed with empty pails to protest threats to sever their water supply.
NONEThey also carried placards that read “Don't cut water” and “DBKL victimises Indians".
The group, representing 22 families, is up in arms over the final notice threatening to cut off their water supply and seal their homes at the public housing project should they fail to settle their water bills and rental arrears.
The arrears range from RM2,000 to RM15,000 a family for unpaid water bills of RM15 and rentals of RM124 a month, accumulated over a period of several months to several years.
The families fear the notice delivered on Dec 1, which expires on Saturday (Jan 1), may see city authorities swing into action, leaving them bereft of home and water.
NONEAccompanying them were Human Rights Party central executive committee member S Thiagarajan and several orange-shirted Hindraf members.
Assist poor Indians
Speaking on the residents' behalf, Thiagarajan said the families were poor and some of them were sick and could not work.
“They are poor and have been denied help from welfare services... they cannot afford to pay. The government should step in and 'bail' them out by paying the arrears of these poor Indians and providing them with jobs,” he argued.
He said that poor Muslims were helped by Baitulmal or Pusat Urus Zakat, while the Indians have no one to turn to but the government.
In the memorandum, Thiagarajan also outlined several other means by which the government should "bail out" the poor Indians.
In addition to paying their arrears, he wants the government to provide employment, education and business opportunities for the poor Indians.
Threats to camp at City Hall
TNONEheir memorandum was at first received by an officer from the city administrator's office, who only introduced himself as Fazli. However, after referring the matter to his superiors, Fazli was unable to provide any commitment on the demands made by the group.
Later, a special officer to KL Mayor, Mohd Azlan Zain, appeared and officially accepted the letter, promising to hand it to Mayor Ahmad Fuad Ismail on Monday.
However, the group failed to get any assurance from City Hall that their water would not be cut nor their homes sealed.
While they agreed to disperse after their memorandum was accepted, Thiagarajan warned that if they returned to find their water cut and homes sealed, the residents of PPR Taman Wahyu would camp in front of city hall and use the public water from DBKL toilets for their daily needs.
“They have no choice, if their water is cut and their houses sealed,” he reasoned.
The protest was observed by about a dozen police officers stationed in front of City Hall. They did not intervene, leaving the matter to be handled by DBKL security and City Hall officials. |
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