A group of about 20 villagers picketed in front of the state government building in Shah Alam this morning, along with representatives of Gabungan Marhaen and Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM).

The villagers also submitted another memorandum to Amirudin over their plight. They said they submitted similar memorandums in March and October last year.

The group’s spokesman, Noora Mustafa, expressed hope that the menteri besar would engage villagers or give them the reparations they are hoping for, as outlined in their memorandum.

“We don’t even want (accommodations) for free. We want to pay. But we want to be assured of a place to stay,” she told reporters here.

The land dispute between the villagers and current landowner, the Selangor State Development Corporation (PKNS), went to court in January 2022, with the residents subsequently losing.

Although no eviction notice was served then, PKNS was permitted to order the villagers to vacate the land.

The residents were finally served with an eviction notice on Aug 18 and were given just seven days to vacate the area.

Meanwhile, PSM deputy chairman S Arutchelvan urged Amirudin to resolve the issue, claiming Pakatan Harapan previously promised not to evict the residents before providing housing for them.

“We ask the Selangor state government, the most advanced state in Malaysia, to display its political will by resolving this issue,” he said at the demonstration.