TIRED of flip-flops and broken promises, the Selangor and Kuala Lumpur Landscaping and Nursery Operators Association urged the state government to provide a permanent solution to their land woes, which has been plaguing them since 2008.
“We will not accept any decision to relocate us to any temporary land which will only destroy our business, which is already being pummeled by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Our association wants the Selangor state government to relocate us at the land plot designated to us by the previous Menteri Besar, which was slated to become the state’s nursery hub.
“And we are ready to pay a reasonable rental rate to any state agencies that will be managing the nursery hub,” said its president Lee Chee Hong.
Speaking to FocusM, Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) secretary-general A Sivarajan said that the nursery owners’ woes started back in 2008, when the state Land and Minerals Department rejected the operators’ bid to renew their temporary occupation license (TOL).
“The nursery operators started their businesses along Sungai Buloh and Shah Alam roadside back in 1990s, with the agreement of the state authorities.
“In 1999, the nursery management was taken over by Selangor Agricultural Development Corporation (PKPS). Initially, they paid a rental of RM400 monthly but now it’s at RM800.
“But in 2008, PKPS transferred the nursery’s management to Yayasan Selangor,” he said.
Broken promises, tumbling business
Sivarajan said that Yayasan Selangor wanted to hike up the rental rate even further, which was opposed by the nursery operators. Subsequently, they sent a letter to the said state agency and then Menteri Besar to settle the dispute.
He added that a PSM state assemblyman then, Nasir Hashim, even raised the matter at the state assembly sitting.
“They later reversed the decision but we came to an understanding that the nursery operators needed to move to a permanent location,” said the PSM leader.
In 2012, the state government proposed the idea of moving the nursery operators to a land adjacent to their business, belonging to the Malaysian Rubber Board (LGM).
Under the plan, which was signed by then Menteri Besar, portions of the land will be given to the nursery operators when development projects start, turning the place into Selangor’s nursery and landscaping hub.
“However, we did not get any updates since then but we came to know recently that the plan was dropped by the current state administration.
“Now, the nursery operators are facing constant harassment from state authorities and contactors managing the Damansara–Shah Alam Elevated Expressway (Dash Highway),” said Sivarajan.
On their woes, Sivarajan said that about 30 out the original 70 nursery operators have faced substantial losses as they were forced to relocate to isolated areas such as Section 28, Shah Alam and Bukit Cerakah.
“Their businesses are already suffering due to the pandemic but relocating them to temporary sites in Section 28 and Bukit Cerakah, which is a hillside area, made things worse for their livelihood.
“And some of those who got relocated never got any compensation as promised by the state agencies,” he alleged.
Sivarajan and Lee then urged the state government to revert to their 2012 pledge and give them the portion of land under LGM, which is now being developed by Kwasa Land Sdn Bhd.
“Insert conditions that any development plan on the land must include plots for the nursery operators and turn the site into Selangor’s nursery hub, which the Shah Alam City Council (MBSA) has authority to do so.
“Alternatively, the state can acquire a portion of the land and deliver it to the nursery operators. They are willing to pay any reasonable rental rate as long as it’s a permanent land,” he said.
The nursery operators, along with Sivarajan, delivered a memorandum to the Selangor Menteri Besar’s office on Dec 10. – Dec 13, 2020.
