'We're confused', Klang neighbourhood residents respond to MRL's statement

Taman Sungai Sireh residents in Klang have said that the ongoing land acquisition process to make way for the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) development project in the area, which they claim does not follow proper governance and lacks systematic procedures, has led to confusion.

In a statement, the Taman Sungai Sireh action committee refuted the claims by Malaysia Rail Link Sdn Bhd (MRL), the company managing the ECRL project, that the land acquisition process adhered to legal procedures.

"The residents were never informed about the ECRL alignment passing through Taman Sungai Sireh until they found it out themselves around July 2022 through social media platforms and survey works carried out by MRL contractors, although the project started back in 2017," the statement said.

MalaysiaNow recently reported that Taman Sungai Sireh has garnered national attention due to the controversy surrounding the land acquisition issue in the area.

Approximately 89 houses are at risk of being demolished when the ECRL alignment is redirected through the residential area, which also includes a burial site with dozens of nearby residents' remains.

Following the report by MalaysiaNow, MRL issued a statement saying that the land acquisition process in the area would take into consideration various aspects to ensure fairness was accorded to all parties involved.

According to the Taman Sungai Sireh action committee, however, the residents were not given any notice when the Department of Valuation and Property Services conducted an assessment on March 27 last year.

"The residents were informed that after the site assessment, administrative hearings, written awards, and subsequent processes, it would take about three to five months before the eviction notice could be issued," they said.

Deputy Transport Minister Hasbi Habibollah previously said that the entire land acquisition process, including compensation payments to those affected, would take six to seven months.

The residents, meanwhile, said that the house prices in the residential area have already reached between RM500,000 and RM700,000.

"The majority of residents who are affected belong to the B40 group as well as retirees and elderly individuals who do not have the means to take out a loan to buy a new house or are still bound by bank loans.

"This situation has caused distress among the residents, raising concerns about their future."

The ECRL is a mega-project initiated during the Barisan Nasional administration under former prime minister Najib Razak in cooperation with Chinese companies.

The 600km-long project would connect Port Klang with states along the East Coast.

MRL claimed to have met with the residents regarding the issue, but the residents said they were the ones who had to arrange for meetings with the company.

"During the meetings, MRL informed us that the alignment was final and could not be altered.

"MRL also lacked the authority to cancel the alignment or determine the form and value of compensation for affected residents," they said.