Squatters? Urban pioneers!
* Malaysia Up to 1/4 of Asia's urban population are squatters. They occupy the worst land, and often lack even basic amenities like water, sewage and public transport. But rather than seeing squatters as powerless, Malaysia's Urban Pioneers Support Committee helps them fight back against government and private developers. Syed Husin Ali* In Malaysia, some squatter settlements are as old as the cities themselves. In Kuala Lumpur, the capital, many squatter sites have existed for more than a hundred years.
When Kuala Lumpur grew after becoming the country's administrative capital and commercial centre, it attracted migrants from country areas, and also from Indonesia, India and China. Some of the earliest squatter settlements were created by Indonesian migrants.
After World War II, and particularly after Independence in 1957, administrative, commercial and industrial development attracted more people from the outlying areas to the capital, and other fast growing cities like Penang, Ipoh, Johor Bahru, Kuantan and Kota Bharu.
And following the bloody inter-ethnic conflicts in Kuala Lumpur in 1969, the government began encouraging rural Malays to migrate to urban areas, to achieve ethnic balance in the population of the big cities at that time dominated mainly by Chinese and Indians. Distribution of squatters
The majority of these rural-urban migrants were encouraged to settle in existing squatter settlements or to open new ones. Most of the land they occupied belonged to government, but there were also those that were owned by private individuals or
The squatters formed local branches of the ruling parties, were protected by these parties, and provided with facilities like water, electricity, health and education. In other words, they were recognised, with almost legal status.
Owing to this and the major role that they have played in developing the cities, they are now often being referred to as "urban pioneers". This term has been popularised by social activists concerned with squatter issues and the squatters themselves since 1990, and is preferred to the term "squatters", which carries illegal connotations. We see urban pioneers as
28 International Viewpoint #299 licensees, with an equity stake and right of possession on the land they occupy.
There are no reliable statistics regarding the squatter population and its distribution in the country. Estimates have varied from one to two million, i.e. 5-10% of Malaysia's 20 million inhabitants. As in other countries, squatters are concentrated in the capital (which has about 1.5 million residents) and other major towns. Roots of Eviction
The process of house demolition and squatter eviction has been taking place for a long time. Following the inter-ethnic carnage in 1969 the government used emergency powers, evicted thousands of squatters - mostly of Chinese origin -from the centre of Kuala Lumpur. This enabled them to widen one of the main roads, and construct a modern commercial and administrative centre. Some of the squatters were relocated to low cost flats provided by City Hall, while others built or rented houses elsewhere, including in some old or new squatter settlements.
In 1974, following the national election, a squatter community in Tasik Utara (Johor Bahru state), which was a stronghold of the ruling party, was evicted to make way for the construction of a golf course. The squatters were relocated to a temporary housing scheme in Tampol, where they are still living. This area is now going to be cleared for a new housing development scheme, and there is an ongoing court case to settle the demand of these people for terrace houses. This eviction created history because the squatters received good support from students of the University of Malaya, who carried out a series of demonstrations culminating in the take-over of the campus.
When Prime Minister Mahathir
Mohamad came to power in 1981, the focus of development shifted from rural to urban areas. Infrastructure, office, housing and industrial developments have led to a land shortage, and a dramatic increase in land prices. Some government land occupied by squatters was sold to private developers. As soon as these new owners were ready to build, they were determined
In the 1990s, moves to clear squatter areas became more active. The Kuala Lumpur City Hall and the Selangor state government have committed themselves to clearing existing squatter settlements by the year 2002, something they realise is not possible to achieve. Further, in anticipation of the Commonwealth Games later this year, the Federal and Selangor state governments have been feverishly carrying out projects to beautify and upgrade the capital. New hotels and luxury apartments have been built, to say nothing of the Petronas twin towers, the tallest building in the world. Roads have been widened, and new tracks have been constructed for commuter trains.
Kuala Lumpur will have a new International Airport, and the Putrajaya project will create a new administrative capital. These, together with the Cyber City office project form part of Mahathir's ambitious Multi-media Super Corridor, which it is hoped will enable Malaysia to shift its economy towards high-tech sectors.
These projects will cost more than 80 billion ringgit (US$21bn.) Yet there is not enough money for low cost housing, especially for the lower income groups. Indeed, all these costly projects have resulted in eviction of increasing numbers of "squatters", many of whom face great difficulty in finding alternative land or houses.
No-one is saying that development as such is undesirable and objectionable to the squatters. The question is: development for what and for whom? Monumental physical development driven by the profit motive tends to ignore and neglect the interests and welfare of that section of the population who are often adversely affected by it. Including the squatters.
The government can evict squatters from land it owns by resorting to the 1965 Land Code or Clearance of Squatters Regulation of 1969. It can also evict squatters from land that is acquired through the 1961 Land Acquisition Act. Private owners can obtain a court order for the eviction of squatters on their land, after which relevant government departments and the police can be mobilised to enforce the decision.
But actual, physical eviction is only the last stage in the process. It is important to recognise, and intervene, in the early Persuasion
Community leaders, politicians and representatives of developers initially try to persuade squatters to leave by saying that they should be grateful for being allowed to occupy the land without payment for so many years. In some instances squatters have also been known to be persuaded that, being supporters of the ruling party and the Prime Minister, they should help the PM to realise his dream to develop the country;
Squatters are often threatened that if they do not move out of their free will, then all their property would be destroyed and that they would not be considered for compensation or for selection to purchase low cost houses. In addition there might be some local politicians or even special branch operatives who would come with threats that stubborn squatters could be arrested and detained without trial under the draconian Internal Security Act. In many known cases bouncers or gangsters have also been sent, not only to threaten but occasionally to inflict physical injuries on some squatters presumably "as a warning to stubborn ones"; Payment