Protestors against Keramat luxury condo turn aggressive

PETALING JAYA: Hundreds of protesters against the construction of Datum Jelatek luxury condominiums in Keramat turned aggressive on Sunday when they broke into the construction site of the project.

The protesters claimed the project infringes the rights of Malays, and mostly comprise Taman Keramat residents and Malay right wing group Perkasa members.

The protestors tore down the zinc hoardings placed around the project site and trespassed into it.

However, the situation was brought under control when the police on standby stepped in and told the protesters to disperse.

Amid the aggressiveness, Datum Jelatek action committee chairman Salleh Samad warned that this could lead to a 'bloodshed' if the state government proceeds with the project, which he said is being built on "100% Malay area".

He said the area had always been predominantly Malay populated and the implementation of the project had forced the local bumiputera to be "kicked out".

"Why do they want to encroach into our land by bringing in bangsa asing? (non-Malays). We are not ready to accept other races in our community. They shouldn't play with fire," he told The Star Online.

The project first courted controversy when the former administration of Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim approved the project, which sits on the site of four blocks of Selangor State Development Corporation (PKNS) flats - owned mostly by Malays.

Salleh, who has been spearheading protests against the project since the flats were demolished in late 2010, said they wouldn't oppose it if teh condominium units were affordable.

He had said a luxury studio apartment there, measuring 538 sq ft each, was priced at RM700,000, which the Taman Keramat Malay community could not afford.