By Siti Rohaizah Zainal
SHAH ALAM, May 20 — Eight Mah Meri Orang Asli families involved in a tourism development project have received new homes through the Orang Asli Housing Assistance Programme (PBROA).
State executive councillor for housing and culture Datuk Borhan Aman Shah said all the affected residents were provided with 660-square-foot homes built following PBROA standards and guidelines in April.
"This housing assistance programme not only fulfils the fundamental housing rights and needs, but also represents a recognition of the Orang Asli community as part of the larger family of Selangor's people.
"A total of eight homes have been completed and handed over to the affected residents – four were provided by the Department of Orang Asli Development (Jakoa), while the remainder were built by Permodalan Negeri Selangor Berhad (PNSB).
"For the five families who already owned their own homes, the state government, via PNSB, also allocated an RM3,000 ex gratia payment per family as a token of appreciation and social responsibility for their cooperation and sacrifices in resolving this matter," he said in a statement today.
Yesterday, Borhan officiated the home handover ceremony at the Bukit Bangkong Orang Asli Village Community Hall in Sepang.
Previously, the settlement issue of the Mah Meri community in Bagan Lalang went viral following claims that they were evicted to make way for tourism development under the Sepang Gold Coast project.
However, PNSB denied the allegations in a statement, asserting that the state government had negotiated parties involved per existing procedures and laws.
It said the land involved in the project belongs to the state government and includes the site of the Royal Malaysia Police General Operations Force (PGA PDRM) post, specifically plot number 70, HS(D) 18373, PT 5250, HS(D) 37248, and PT 9925.
