Maszahar Hashim, who is heading a committee challenging the eviction of some 12 families from Kampung Koskan Tambahan, wondered if privately owned lands prior to Merdeka were issued land grants.

He was responding to Hulu Selangor district land administrator Hanafe Basri who had previously revealed that the land was privately owned and that a title had been granted 133 years ago, on June 21, 1890.

“This is the first time we are hearing of this,” Maszahar said in a statement.

He also wondered if the land was indeed privately owned, if the village was included in the land office’s site plan in 2006.

“Why were we not informed then that we were occupying someone else’s land.”

Maszahar also questioned why the village had access to electricity and water supply since 2000.

He then disputed Hanafe’s claim that some villagers had rejected a settlement offered by the land owner, saying it was “not true”.

Maszahar said neither the district and land office or the property developer, Panca Resmi Sdn Bhd had met with the villagers or had made any offers in writing.

On Friday, Hanafe said the original landowner had sold the land to Panca Resmi in 1991.

“Some villagers may have been threatened or bribed with cash but if there was indeed any settlement offered, we demand proof,” Maszahar said.

Last week, more than 20 settlers from the village handed over a memorandum to Selangor menteri besar Amirudin Shari to oppose their pending eviction by a developer.

The 12 families, who have occupied the land for nearly 40 years, have been told by the developer to leave by May 2.

The settlers said they want the “forced eviction” to be halted until negotiations with the developer reach an amicable solution. They also wanted Amirudin to mediate in the dispute.