Cops hold two for obstructing eviction

GEORGE TOWN: Two individuals were detained by police for allegedly obstructing Penang Housing Department personnel from discharging their duties in evicting five families from the People's Housing Project (PPR) in Rifle Range.
The duo said to be a Parti Socialis Malaysia (PSM) activist R. Karthiges and a friend of the residents were caught for interrupting the eviction process.
In confirming this, PSM leader in the state Choo Chon Kai told theSun that it was a sad matter to see the families being evicted from their homes and their premises locked.
He said such action was totally against the state's commitment to look into the plight of the poor, especially in the oldest public housing scheme in Padang Tembak.
Currently, he said five of the families did not have shelter to stay on after the eviction and hoped the state could do something about this.
At press time, the affected families are at the state administration centre in Komtar hoping to meet with the authorities to resolve the matter amicably.
"It is uncalled for," he said, referring to their action in evicting the residents.
Choo also pointed out that it was inhumane to evict the residents just because they are unable to pay the rent.
He said more affordable housing units can be built to meet the demand instead of evicting those who are already poor.
Activist Anil Netto, also stated in his blog that it was disappointing to see this issue happening in the country.
theSun is attempting to contact the police and state Housing exco Jagdeep Singh Deo for response at the time of writing.