They complained that they had been renting flats nearby at their own cost after having been forced to relocate to surrounding suburbs.

Batu Umno division youth chief Gulam Muszaffar, who was at the rally, promised to bring up their plight with officials of City Hall and with Federal Territories minister, Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor.

He said that in 2005, a real estate developer had offered new low-cost flats for each family of the Seri Terengganu flats that would be ready by 2008.

“But they didn’t hold on to their promise. Not a single unit was built, and the developers were declared bankrupt in 2008,” he said.

The land promised to the residents is now abandoned. “We sent letters to Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) a few years ago and had discussion upon discussion, but there is still no solution. We want an answer, a concrete answer,” Gulam said.

The Sri Terengganu flats have been rented out by its original landlords to migrant workers, a move which has angered the former residents as they now live at inconvenient locations.

Chandrakanta Pitchay, 65, a retiree, told FMT that she lives in another low-cost flat in Setapak. “There is no public transport here and it’s hard for me because I’m working in Tesco Selayang,” she said.

Gulam promised to work collectively with the authorities to find a solution to the residents’ problems.