There was a big crowd in level 7 of the Shah Alam High Court where the
Kampung Berembang case Judgment was to be read compared to level 4 where the
Altantuya case was going on. It seems the crowd was not interested anymore
in the Altantuya case as it is full of comedy but unfortunately, the comedy
situation spread to level 7 when the 100 over settlers from Berembang were
told that their case is postponed as the file has gone missing.
Most lawyers were quite familiar with this situation of file missing in the
court but not the settlers who have been living under tents and under
tremendous hardship. They just could not digest the news that the judgment
they had been waiting since August had to be postponed to December 14 as the
file could be found. They had been waiting anxiously all morning, only to be
told of this “missing” file.
The whole Kampung Berembang case is in fact a comedy. The court was to give
judgment on the question of vacant possession as the developer Permodalan
Nasional Selangor Bhd (PNSB), through their joint-venture agreement partner
Perspektif Masa Sdn Bhd, had applied for a summary possession of the land
under Order 89 of the High Court Rules. Before even the court could come to
a decision, the settlers were illegally evicted from their land which they
have been staying for almost fifty years. Before this, they had another case
when they were evicted bceause the land was said to be state land.
Today the settlers were visibly very upset with the outcome. They could not
understand how a nation sending someone to space cannot find a missing file
in the courtroom. Their frustration was also against UMNO which most people
felt did not serve the interest of the villagers. The Kampung - a former
stronghold of UMNO saw today the settlers carrying a banner which said that
UMNO’s keris (dagger) stabbed them. Recently UMNO General Assembly continued
on show UMNO has saved the Malay race but to the settlers’ today- UMNO is
just a party for the rich Malay to get contracts and make money.
After the hearing, Edward Saw the lawyer representing the settlers as well
as PSM’s Secretary General S.Arutchelvan addressed the settlers. Edward felt
sorry for the settlers on the outcome today and expressed what happened in
the chambers. Meanwhile Arutchelvan told the press gathered that he was
upset with the missing file as it has created a lot of anxiety and suspicion
as the settlers are dealing with a Big Company with lots of dealing with the
State Government.
A missing file is not a good sign in a country riddled with many questions
on the independence of the Judiciary. The fear that the comedy in level 4 of
the Altantuya case would eventually decide the outcome of the Kampung
Berembang case was in everybody mind. Next month December 14- these
questions will be answered.