They were accompanied by several members of Parti Socialis Malaysia (PSM) when they submitted a memorandum to Azmin’s office.

According to the memorandum, the promise was made in April 1988 by a Selangor Exco member when he launched a cash-crops land scheme in April 1988. He allegedly said a land grant would be given to every settler. The location is now known as Sri Tanjung.

The promise was never fulfilled, PSM Central Committee member S Arutchelvan told reporters.

He said 48 of the 68 settlers filed a suit in the Shah Alam High Court in early 2008 but the case was thrown out because the land was classified as Malay Reserve Land.

“Then, when the Pakatan Rakyat took over the administration, the settlers ceased legal action and instead negotiated with state government members, including Ronnie Liew, Dr Xavier Jayakumar and Ganabatirau Veraman,” he said. “After that, in 2013, a meeting was held at the Sepang District Office with Sepang Land Assistant District Officer Khairul Azam Saroni.”

At the meeting, he added, it was agreed that 68 lots of a 12-acre piece of land would be given to the settlers at a location known as Ampar Tenang as replacement for the originally promised land. He said the settlers agreed to the compromise even though their lots would be smaller.

“However, in September 2014, we were told that the Sepang Land Office could not process the application for the separation of land for the settlers as the papers for the proposal and replacement of the Malay Reserve land had still not been appointed for the consideration of the state authorities.”

Last September, the settlers met with the Sepang Assistant District Officer Anas Shafie, who told them that the land was being “kept in view” and advised them to make an application with the Selangor MB as soon as possible to prevent a claim by other settlers.