From their homes to the sidewalk of a complex

Out in the open: Former residents of the People’s Housing Project in Taman Manggis squatting at the Komtar lobby. They did this in protest over the Penang Housing Department’s move to evict them.

GEORGE TOWN: Sobbing as she showed a letter informing her she is no longer eligible to stay at the People’s Housing Project because she owns another home, Balkees Mohamed Hussan denies having another home.

The 63-year-old retired cleaner said she was displaced when her home was demolished in Kampung Sungai Pinang, Balik Pulau.

“They offered us a home in Taman Manggis as a replacement for demolishing our home.

“Now, they are kicking me out because they say my late husband and I have a home in Kampung Sungai Pinang.

“I kept explaining to them that my husband has passed away and that home was demolished.

“This is the replacement home I was given in 2006,” she said when met at Komtar yesterday.

Balkees said her husband passed away in 2006, the year she moved into the People’s Housing Project in Taman Manggis.

“I have an adopted son but he is a drug addict who is in jail and I am currently on welfare.

“I have never missed my rental payment and live within my means.

“It would be impossible for me to find a new place to rent as I cannot work.

“Who would give a 63-year-old a loan?” she asked.

The eight families that refused to move out of their homes in the Taman Manggis People’s Housing Project in Jalan Zainal Abidin have decided to hold a silent protest at Komtar until they get an answer.

Another resident Khalidah Nazir Ahmad, 63, said she felt like a refugee in her own country, having to sleep outside Komtar and wait to be allowed back into her home.

“After my house was demolished in Kampung Sungai Pinang in Balik Pulau, I moved here 13 years ago as it was based on a replacement home programme.

“I was already married to my husband who is a Sri Lankan. They did not question me then nor tell me I was not eligible.

“Now they are saying because we are married to foreigners, we are not allowed to stay there.

“They have sealed our homes and now we are living here. I have never been in such a situation, having to bathe in the toilet in Komtar.

“As a Malaysian how do I exercise my rights? I pay all my bills and the rental on time. Everything is in my name. What more do they want?

“In order to stay there, do they expect me to divorce my husband?” asked the retired accounts clerk.

Resident Muhammad Kadim Kutnan, 51, who was arrested at his home by the police after he refused to vacate his home and released at 9pm on Wednesday, said his family of nine had no where to stay.

“We do have family but no one has enough space to take us in.

“I am from Indonesia but I have lived here for 32 years and this is my home.

“I still have four school-going children who could not attend school today.

“I feel bad, all their bags, books and clothes are in our sealed home,” said the sub-contractor.

Kadim’s 14-year-old daughter Diyanah Erdikah said she was worried as her first term exams start next week.

“I need to go to school and I need my books to revise,” she said.

The families received pillows, comforters, food and bare essentials from good samaritans and NGOs as they wait for an answer from the state government.

On Wednesday, the families got into a standoff with an enforcement team after their homes were sealed.

The group then marched a few kilometres to Komtar to stage a peaceful protest over the eviction and decided to stay there.