THE BROGA EXPERIENCE

The Broga New Villagers

The villagers are the real fighters. They had no high education, no access to resources like the urban professionals, but their will and determination to fight for their rights, to protect their homeland had finally convinced and brought in people from near and far to work out an enduring struggle against all odds. The village head and the committee prefered standing on the Government side favoring the Incinerator. They formed a special committe including the local assemblymen, village heads, local councillors and the ruling parties' chiefs. Despite all shorts and pressure the villagers moved on. They went to the Prime Minister, DoE, Ministry of Housing and Local Government, State Chief Minister and finally went to court seeking for the last hope even though with not much confidence. With the help from NGOs, NGIs, political parties like KeADILan, PAS and DAP, the people went on non-stop campaigning, lobbying and protesting thru leafleting, signature campaign, talks and holding donation dinner. Among those leading the struggle are Alice, Gan, Jason, Zulkifli, Ronnie Liu etc. My role is more of mobilisation and coordinating NGOs besides doing research into legal process and government document review.

The Media

The media especially the Chinese media and the electronic media such as Malaysiakini and Merdeka Review had played a vital role in keeping the issue hot and getting the public well informed. Hence, the struggle gained support locally and overseas. The media indirectly was helping in lobbying and campaigning. Eventually, these helped pressured the government to rethink the feasibility of constructing the Mega-Incinerator, especially at a location which was declared by the state government as forest reserves,watershed and highly sensitive area.

Besides the media, there is a group of sweet ladies led by Julin,Yin San,Mei Chern etc who produced a documentary named " Alice Lives Here". The short film narrated the struggle of the Broga folks against the arrogant authority and the monsterous Mega-Project. The documentary won the Human Rights Award and caught attention of a wider public. This effort is worth a thousand praise because at the latter stage, the main stream media had black-out whatever news considered 'negative ' by the authority.

Finale

After a long march(5 years) by the Broga people and other concerned groups, the government finally cancelled the Incinerator project. A victorous win by the People! A great thanks to everybody and lets march on in protecting the victimised and marginalised.

反对加影市议会调涨门牌税

This photo was taken by journalist while Party members and PAS former assemblyman for Kajang Dr. Shafie Abu Bakar protesting MPKj rate hike for 2007. The protest site is at Kajang Point, a white elephant project besides another bigger Elephant just about 100 meters away-The Satay Museum. Millions of ringgit had gone to the drain/Langat River without any good to the Kajang folks.我与加影公正党区部全体理事极力反对加影市议会调涨加影市门牌税。

People Of Broga Won

“Finally the people of Broga won the fight against the State and the Mega-Project--The Broga Incinerator.”

Writing New Year Wishes

“I was writing new year wishes on red paper or ChunLian for Charity in 2006 outside a 135 year-old temple in Kajang Town-Shi Yer Gong.”

城市边缘社区的再度边缘化探讨

马来西亚城镇的成立与发展始于经济和行政上的需要.也正因为如此,城镇的永续发展一直都是沿续着同一个轨道,建构成为经济及行政中心.在这两个导因中,经济相对比行政拥有更大的比重.在这发展趋势下,城市的版图自然向原是边缘的社区扩展,并吞一切可被纳入版图的地带.部分被纳入版图的社区欣然的接纳并融入成为城市的新领土;然而,却有其他边缘社区因为社会历史因素,在城市并吞边缘社区同时再度被边缘化,导致这类社区面对许多有形无形的压迫与挑战.

我国有不少新村均处在城市边缘,城市的发展似乎忘却了这些边缘地带.数十年的城市建构与发展计划,往往撇开这批历史的弃儿,任由它停顿在半个世纪前的状态.甚至有些城市边缘的新村,还被城市扩展版图时被侵占,把历史上拨予华族群体的地段转变为商品,成为个人或集团的利益.

根据学者的引述,英殖民政府在圈定地段时,在刺网篱内必须拥有规定的基本公共设施,如:学校,民众会堂,诊疗所,运动场,神庙,养猪场与耕地等.由于这些公共设施的地段,尤其是养猪及农耕地均属于临时使用性质( T.O.L ),在社会发展与变迁下, 村民陆续放弃经济效益相对低的农业生产,不再更新地税;有者作出申请转换成为租约地契,然多数不得要领,至多获得每年更新临时使用权.在这种情况下,许多原属新村地段的农耕地都被征用或被申请作为个人或商业集团的用途.其中一个典型的例子就是位于雪兰莪州的锡米山新村.其原属于新村农耕地段的关东一带所谓 “政府地”已是商业集团的公寓楼房和政治朋党的私人地段.

新村因为土地面积有限,早已无法容纳日益增加的人口;周边城市的经济活动导致人口急速增长,聚居在新村边缘.由于当局规划失策及政府种族政策因素,类如华文学校,宗教庙堂,葬地等设施都受限制或不予建设;新移民涌入新村使用原已不敷应用的仅有设施.导致许多新村华小严重爆满,加上政府拨款不足,当地华人社会惟有自资增建课室.这畸形的现象不只是政策上的不公,更是对新村资源的掠夺和侵占.

2003年杪发生在锡米山新村的迫迁及夷平民居事件就是一个强烈的资源掠夺个案. 政府当局为了纾解加影日益严重的交通问题,征用锡米山新村公路两旁的民居地段作为建筑高速公路用途.居民反对无效,部分居民由于地契期满作出更新不获批准,反被指为非法占用政府地,仅获微薄的所谓人道赔偿.根据州政府的政策,新村地契期满,只要资料充足,缴付地价( premium ),即可自动获得更新. 然而,锡米山新村村民的土地拥有权却被剥夺了!如今,大道已开,还把新村破分两半,造成诸多隔离.这个案例,显现出华人新村土地居住权和拥有权已被侵犯,历史事实和社会契约被否决.

城市的经济活动和消费制造了巨量的垃圾.寸土如金的城市土地绝不会用作垃圾处理如土埋或焚化用途.城市外围郊区最终成为垃圾接收站.目前舆论纷纷的武来岸垃圾焚化炉和蒲种亚依淡等地土埋场均是佐证.当局在城市发展的规划和执行上,严重缺乏专业与全面的政策,过度偏重短期的经济效益,忽视城市以外边缘社区的福利和权益.

以上数项城市发展所导致加害予边缘社区的观察和批判,仅是我国诸多畸形发展中的冰山一角.原已被边缘化的社群再次被城市加害.华人新村是我国历史的产物,是当时政府对被迫害者的承诺;历史事实和社会契约要获得尊重及肯定.我国为数452个华人新村的发展已被旁落了半个世纪;虽说政府近期内将宣布 “ 新村发展大蓝图”,惟笔者初步窥探,在种族政策压力下,恐怕这洋洋洒洒的大蓝图仅是官样文章,未能全面解决沉疴已久的老问题.

THE ARCHITECTURES AND STRUCTURES OF SHOPHOUSES IN AND AROUND KAJANG

It is always our habit of driving or walking at relatively fast pace through town. Only if you were to spare some time walking slowly and looking up at the structures and designs of the old shophouses along Jalan Sulaiman, Jalan Besar, Jalan Tukang and Jalan Mendaling, you will notice artistic design and year of construction displayed at the buildings. Most of the buildings in “Kajang Old Town” were constructed around 1920s to 1930s. The architecture of these shophouses is a combination of Chinese traditional and European design. The ground floor was used as shop and the upper floor as living space for the family.

The older street of Jalan Tukang has more varied display of design as compared to others. Till today, the corner Lee Chang Long goldsmith shop stand as Kajang landmark. Formerly named Hong Bee, i.e. Low Ti Kok’s shop had a panel of cast-iron floral motif(picture) which was torn down and displaced by flat wall some years ago.

Another big shophouse at the end of the row along with Maybank has a third storey and a balcony overlooking Langat River. This building was owned by Towkay Low Boon Liew who was a rich man in Kajang and a philanthropist. He was a committee member of the then Kuomintang branch in Kajang. There is an emblem of the party engraved which is still noticeable even though part of it had broken off during a fire some years ago.

In Langat 14th Mile, the eye-catching distinguish old shophouse of Woon Family has a big KMT emblem at its back facing the Langat River. Its owner was Towkay Woon Peng.Further down the end of the old town across the river, there is another old building which was built using compact earth, a traditional Hakka technology. The owner was Chong Koon Lin, a successful businessman involved in tin mining and was appointed as council member of Selangor Sanitary Board.

SCENES FOREVER GONE FROM KAJANG

Kajang is developing at a fantastically fast pace. Data reviews that the population in Kajang and Hulu Langat District is increasing at a rate of 10% per annum. This is due to its proximity to Kuala Lumpur and Putra Jaya, Cyber Jaya , KLIA and Multimedia Super Corridor(MSC) alongside with numerous higher institutions in its suburbs. New migrants from all over Malaysia are mostly middle-class who travel to and from the above establishment.

Kajang township has transformed from its agricultural and tin based rural substantial economy into commercialized small and medium industries, service industries and has evolved into a commuter township. Due to slow and sluggish infra-structure development , problems like traffic jams, crimes, pollution, unscheduled development and lots of other deteriorations in quality of life has slowly encroached into their daily livelihood.

I manage to get prints and images of old Kajang . Some of them are from the National Archives. Some of these scenes had been wiped out from town giving way to new development. Hopefully, this would bring back some of your memories.

The Kajang District Office was situated at the location of Dato’ Nasir Building beside the stadium. It was a double storey building constructed by the British Colonial Government in 1890s. Its architecture is a combination of European and local design. Unfortunately, this old-fashioned structure had to be demolished in late 1960s or early 1970s. The aerial photos of Kajang Town taken in 1968 from helicopter showed its existence alongside the neo-classic designed post office.

You might had noticed the road leading to Kajang Stadium is named Jalan Kelab. The photo I got from National Archives only showed the road to the Club which was heavily shaded by big trees. The Club was a social and recreation centre for the British planters and colonial officials. The distinguished planters in Kajang were the Kindersly Brothers who owned more than 500 acres of rubber plantation under company Inch Kenneth. Today, the road beside Metro Plaza is named Jalan Kindersly.

( Note: More photos and history write-up can be viewed at Hulu Langat Heritage Centre, 39, 3rd Floor, Jalan Mendaling, Kajang. Open during office hours. )

加影以先贤名人命名道路，公正党建议竖路牌表扬

（加影11日讯）你可知名孟德令街(Jln Mendaling)命名的缘由？谁是万秀、刘治国、苏莱曼和肯德斯利（Kendesley）是何许人？

相信年轻一代的加影市民对市内大街小巷名字的由来，犹如丈八金刚-摸不着头脑，也不知该如追溯这些街道背后的故事和意义。

有鉴于此，公正党建议加影市议会在以先贤或人物命名的街道的策略性地点，竖立显著的路牌，列出有关人物的照片、历史和贡献。

提高市民对社区认识
公正党加影支部主席李成金表示，这不仅是对历史给予准重，也藉此提高市民对社区的认识，热爱及人文素养，有助于恢复加影为文化城的美名。

他今日针对加影市议会主席拿督哈山纳华威日前吁请人民列出10大加影名人的做法表示欢迎，并召开新闻发布会提出相关的建议。

他建议有关路牌采用三语，包括中文，甚至爪夷文，以突出人物的历史背景，彰显我国的多元色彩。

“我们期待市议会以实际的行动，来落实市议会的政策或行政指南。”

多条先贤命名道路都被改为数字命名
李成金披露，根据公正党的实地考察，发现加影和锡米山地区有很多以华裔先贤命名的道路，现在都被市议会改为数字命名。

对有贡献先贤不敬
“譬如，锡米山新村内原先有2条以华裔先贤命名的道路，即吴亚义路(Jln Goh Ah Ngee)和丘冠鸿路(Jln Hew Kuan Hong)，如今分别被改为13路和18路。”

他指出，不少居民的邮区及身份证住址仍旧采用以先贤命名的路名。路牌改为数字的举措不仅令他们感到混乱，对曾为社区贡献的先贤大为不敬，也不尊重历史。

“万秀路则完全没有竖立路牌；坐落在加影市区的刘治国路(Jln Low Ti Kok)，其路牌在年前市议会修建道路时，挖掘出来掷于路旁，过后未曾在竖立。”

他对此感到遗憾，并吁请市议会以实际行动，尽早恢复原先以先贤命名的道路，并竖立路牌，以尊重历史，表扬先贤贡献。

“最为人忽略的一条街是焦赖11哩福建会馆旁的街道，该大街原先的路名的赵煜路(Jln Chow Yok)；赵煜为甲必丹叶亚来的谋士和得力助手，在焦赖和加影有大片胶园和矿地，为了照顾工友，他创办了一家医院，后为加影医院。”

源自星洲日报12/10/2007

李成金：月杪有决定在野党来届大选候选人分配

(加影11日讯)雪隆公正队长李成金披露，在野党在来届大选各议席候选人的分配，预料在本月杪会有最终的决定。

他说，在野党中央领导人已针对有关问题进行协商，虽未达致最后的决定，不过大部分选区已有定案。

也是乌鲁冷岳区部署理主席暨公正党加影支部主席的他指出，公正党乌冷区部曾数次与行动党和回教党会谈，不过并未对区内具争议性的选区如加影作出具体决定。

他说，三方在会谈中同意把具争议性选区交由党中央决定，亦作出君子协议，即在议席分配尚未作出决定前，不对外宣布，避免引起不必要得矛盾与团结。

他今日联袂公正党加影支部理事和雪隆公正队执委召开新闻发布会，针对行动党新加影支部主席日前宣称公正党乌冷区部主席同意让路给行动党攻打加影州议席的言论，作出上述说明。

他驳斥乌冷公正党区部同意让路给行动党攻打加影州议席的言论。

他强调，尽管党基层会提出候选人的建议，不过仍要交由党中央作出最终决定，基层会绝对服从党中央的决定，并以人民的意愿为依归，支持任何反对党竞选的议席和所委派的候选人。

他指出，傅仕祥并未参与有关会谈，因此可能不清楚会谈所达致的共识。出席有关会谈的行动党基层领袖包括锡米山支部主席杨宝安，而公正党乌冷区部主席还未知道有关报道，因此没有对有关报道作出任何反应。

公正党民意调查出战加影胜面高
李成金披露，根据公正党进行的民意调查显示，在下届大选中，在野党在加影州议席的胜面比上届来的高。

“若是公正党候选人上阵，赢面将会更高，可夺得50%马来选民的支持。加影州选区为混合选区，其中马来选民占逾47%，选民人数达3万人，上届大选的投票率逾70%。”

他指出，有鉴于人民对目前政府贪腐现象感到不满和反感，乌冷区内在野党已提早进行协商，配合中央以一对一的选战策略，寻求配合和团结，让人民在来届大选有最好的选择。

他说，民意调查显示，区内人民也期待在野党能达到共识，互相合作和支援。过去数月，在野党在各领域进行联合或配合性活动，都获得社区群众的认同。

对于新加影支部日前作出的宣布，他希望两方能够安排更多交流和配合，在争取人民权益下，共同努力，统合资源，争取在加影和其他国州议席的胜利。

出席这项新闻发布会者包括公正党全国总财政政治秘书蔡尚群、雪隆公正队总协调陈志刚和队员陈兆鸿、加影支部干部刘国昌和李平、乌冷区团团长沙里占、乌冷区部理事阿里及巴哈。

源自星洲日报12/10/2007