Malays Can't Afford The Datum Jelatek Condos? PKNS Proves Protestors Wrong

Some 100 residents protesting the development of the Datum Jelatek luxury condominium in Taman Keramat, Selangor, today turned aggressive and broke into the construction site to halt a project that they felt would turn the area into a "Chinese district".

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The protest began at 11am this morning (25 January 2015), with the residents gathering at one of the organisers' house nearby the construction site. Packets of nasi lemak and bottled mineral water were distributed among the locals before they started their demonstration. Spirits were high as they marched towards the site, with many belting the Warisan song, or Anak Kecil Main Api – a song lamenting the loss of the land to outsiders, often played during the heavily-criticised Biro Tata Negara programme. The protesters wore bandannas around their head emblazoned with the words "Anak Keramat" (Children of Keramat) to signify they were residents of the area.

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The residents first began marching peacefully towards the site, before they proceeded to tear down the zinc barrier surrounding it, with several protesters trespassing on the site. However, police managed to bring the situation under control and the crowd soon dispersed. Two police trucks were seen at the site.

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The protesters, mostly Taman Keramat residents and members of the Malay rights group Perkasa, claimed yesterday the project infringed upon the rights of Malays.

The Datum Jelatek Project that will be built on a 5.5-acre (2.2 hectares) piece of land had previously been said to be a redevelopment project of the low-cost housing area in Jalan Jelatek after all the residents, who were mostly Malays, had been moved out and given a small compensation. However, the project was said to have “changed” into a proposal to develop four exclusive buildings comprising offices, a hotel and a shopping centre targeted at the high-income group and corporate sector.

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Developed by Datumcorp International, the Datum Jelatek project begain in 2008 next to the Jelatek LRT station. It includes the development of luxury condominiums, hotels, offices as well as a shopping complex.

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The groups that gathered here today claimed the Datum Jelatek project had ignored the Malays, and that the Malays could not afford the condominium units' steep price. They claimed that most of the units had been purchased by non-Malays and foreigners.

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One of the residents' representatives, Ariffin Abu Bakar, urged Azmin to prioritise affordable housing for the locals over projects that would allegedly benefit outsiders. "We are not anti-development, but we want affordable housing to be built and for the anak Keramat to be given priority. "Where is the proof that this project is 100% Bumiputera-owned? We can't wait any longer," said Ariffin.

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The Keramat area was set up by the then Selangor Mentri Besar Harun Idris in a delicate attempt to achieve racial balance. Salleh said residents were afraid that the influx of Chinese to the area might force Malays to vacate, similar to other Malay settlements in the city in the past.

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“I did my own study and I found out that they are trying to attract Chinese from China, Singapore, Taiwan and so on,” he said referring to the condominium project. He also disapproved of local ethnic Chinese staying in the proposed project, when asked. “No. We already have this understanding… Keramat was created by Datuk Harun after May 13 to balance the Chinese population in the city with the Malays,” he said.

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Salleh had previously said the planned luxury studio apartment, measuring 538 square feet each, was priced at RM700,000 and was not affordable to the Taman Keramat Malay community. He claimed the prices were intentionally set high so that only other races could afford to purchase the units. “And what is more painful for most of the third generation of Keramat residents is that luxury condominiums are being built instead of affordable houses for the Malay residents here,” he said.

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He said the area had always been a predominantly Malay one and the implementation of the project had forced the local bumiputra to be “kicked out”. “Why do they want to encroach into our land by bringing in bangsa asing (foreign races)? We are not ready to accept other races in our community. They shouldn’t play with fire,” he said.

Selangor Perkasa chief Abu Bakar Yahya urged the state government to stop trying to challenge the Malays. "Stop allowing the Malays to be bullied by other races. We do not hate other races, but the Chinese and the Indians should not challenge the Malays," said Abu Bakar.

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BBDJ chairman Salleh Ahmad said today's demonstration was organised to warn Selangor Menteri Mohamed Azmin Ali to stop the condominium project, saying that it would open the floodgates to other races entering the Malay-majority area. "I challenge him (Azmin) to come down and meet me, but he didn't turn up. If he had, I would have thrown him into the drain," said Salleh. "I challenge him to stop this project," he said.

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Last November, Salleh and the residents of Keramat organised a peaceful protest before the Selangor state secretariat building in Shah Alam to pressure the government into halting the condominium's construction. Salleh had reportedly warned of possible "bloodshed" if Selangor proceeded with plans to construct the condominiums, saying that the development was a threat to the Malays.

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Its manager Azlan Md Alifiah, who is also the chair of Datumcorp International (DCI), the company behind the Datum Jelatek project, claimed there were no grounds for the protesters to be upset by the development as the residents had already been consulted.

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On allegations that PKNS had never met with the residents on the implementation on the project, he said both the state subsidiary and DCI had held several meetings with Taman Keramat residents. "We have organised meetings and dialogues with the residents and we even received positive feedback from all of them," he added.

All 674 units of controversial Datum Jelatek condominiums have been registered to bumiputra buyers, debunking allegations that the Malays could not afford to purchase the luxury units. Selangor State Development Corporation (PKNS) in a statement said that a total of 1,097 potential bumiputra buyers have shown their interest, exceeding their expectations on the project.

"A of Jan 14, 2015, the project has received an overwhelming support and so far a total of 1,097 bumiputra buyers have registered and it has exceeded 674 units available," said PKNS General Manager Azlan Md Alifiah.

Selangor Menteri Besar Mohamed Azmin Ali today questioned whether the rowdy protesters, who broke into the Datum Jelatek condominium construction site in Taman Keramat yesterday, were actual residents of the area. "Who are they? Are you sure? Are you sure they are locals? Besides Salleh (Samad, chairman of the Datum Jelatek Action Committee), who else was there?" he asked reporters in Shah Alam.

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The Selangor Development Corporation (PKNS) said today it would take legal action against protesters who trespassed on the construction site of the Datum Jelatek luxury condominium and tore down the zinc sheets serving as its fencing in Taman Keramat earlier today.

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“What happened today was disappointing as the protest started peacefully but ended up violent… we are looking at this seriously, and legal action will be taken and a police report has been lodged on the violence and trespassing earlier today,” he said in a statement issued late this evening.

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