Why land titles are not issued
29/01/2007 The Star

THE houses at Kampung Meru Tin in Jelapang, Ipoh, were built too closely together. And this is one of the reasons given by Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamad Tajol Rosli Ghazali why the state government is not able to issue the residents there land titles.

“Some of them will have to move if the land is to be subdivided and proper roads are to be built,” Tajol Rosli said on Thursday.

He was responding to the calls of 169 families occupying some 6ha at the former mining village to issue them with land titles, which they had not received despite waiting for over 10 years.

The residents recently erected a signboard bearing the name of the village at its entrance as a reminder to the state to not neglect them and to urge Tajol Rosli to speed up the process.

“We have promised them land but are facing many problems,” said Tajol Rosli.

“We hope the people will give their cooperation to help us settle this fast. In fact, I want it settled before the next general elec- tion.”

He noted that the Perak State Development Corporation had nearly completed a drawing plan to sub-divide the land and that he would check on its development.

According to residents, Meru Tin Limited had given the land at Kampung Meru Tin to those working the mines back in the 1930’s.

The workers received Temporary Occupational Licences (TOL) and were allowed to stay there until the 1980’s when the company closed down.

The state government repossessed the land and the land office stopped issuing TOLs.

After that, said the residents, came more problems when the disputed land was ‘accidentally’ sold off to a developer who then issued them with eviction notices.

The residents said the state government subsequently gave its assurance that they would be allowed to stay and in 1997, promised them land titles.