Farmers lodge police report against City Hall officers for alleged racist remarks

the malay mail, 2011.01.12

SERI KEMBANGAN: Five farmers representing about 95 others this morning lodged a police report against City Hall and Land officers for alleged misconduct and hurling racist remarks against them during a demolition of illegal farming plots at Sungai Besi Army Camp’s reserve land yesterday.

The farmers, accompanied by Selangor Exco Ean Yong Hian Wah, lodged the report at Seri Kembangan police station.

In the report, farmer Yap Keat Chong (left), 49, claimed one of the officers, who wore a jacket and a hat with a City Hall uniform underneath, purportedly hurled derogatory and racist remarks during the demolition exercise.

He said the incident happened when he went to the officer to ask where they would take the seized items to.

“When I asked him that, he was rude in replying, so I told him to be more polite.

"That was when he replied with a racist remark.”

Ean Yong, meanwhile, said he was also at the scene when City Hall and Land Office officers were there to conduct the demolition.

“I rushed there on receiving a call from one of the farmers.”

He said they also took pictures of the enforcement officers taking away three chickens and their crop produce.

DEMOLITION: The enforcement officers at the farm yesterday

“This is unacceptable. How could they say something like that and take away the farmer’s livestock and farming produce?” Ean Yong asked.

It is learnt the farmers operated their business on reserve land belonging to the Defence Ministry for many years.

It was also learnt the farmers were given notices prior to the demolition.

The land area occupied by the farmers cover about 80 acres.

The farmers claimed they had requested the government for many years to give them another piece of land so that they could move out but their request was never entertained.