KEPONG: Kampung Chim Lee squatters who were told to move out, want to finalise their sales and purchase agreements for apartments to be built on the 100-acre village before they start packing.

Although development has yet to begin, the villagers who were told to temporarily move out to nearby Taman Intan Baiduri, want an assurance they can come back when the project is completed.

They also want to see the City Hall-approved layout and building plans before signing any agreement.

The 50-year old village is expected to be developed with a mixture of low-cost and medium-cost apartments and shoplots
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Kepong MCA Public Service and Government Affairs bureau chairman Yee Poh Ying said the developer has jumped the gun by asking them to move out even before they obtained approval from City Hall.

"Residents are now offered RM18,000 if they move out soon, contrary to what had been promised in a meeting last Oct 7," he said.

In a meeting, the developer has agreed to pay RM8,000 to those who did not want to buy the low-cost houses while those who agreed to purchase would be given discounts.

"The first generation villagers would be given 30 per cent discount while the others, RM6,000 discount. Medium-cost apartments will be sold at a discounted price of RM42,000.

"The developer has also agreed to pay two years rental for the displaced squatters pending the completion of the project," said Yee adding that illegal factory operators were to be compensated RM10,000 each.

They would have three months to move out after signing the sales and purchase agreement.

The Kampung Chim Lee Moving Squatters Association secretary Go Kim Peng said they will arrange for another meeting with the developer.

"We are worried we may not get anything if we move out now," he said. Another squatter, Chua Chong Ho said he has been staying there for the past 11 years and like the neighbourhood.

"We hope to stay together. I wish all of us could return to the same spot where we live now," he said.