Kota Damansara, 12 April 2008
Barely one month after election, Dr. Nasir Hashim, Kota Damansara Socialist State Assemblyman and PSM National Chairperson was back in the streets leading around 300 protesters against the construction of a Carrefour Hypermarket at a residential area in Kota Damansara.
At about 11am residents from D'Villa Avenue, D'Villa Botany, Gugusan Dedap, Bayu Damansara, RT Seri Utama, Damansara Emas and the Friends of Kota Damansara gathered in front of the hypermarket construction site with banners in protest. The message was clear. "WE DON'T WANT ANOTHER HYPERMARKET", "PKNS AND MBPJ CHEATED US" were some of the wordings on the banners.
The residents demanded that the project which was approved without any public consultation with the residents to be stopped immediately. The protest was participated by a wide variety of people,coming together for a common cause. Both residents from Semi detached, bungalow house joined hands with residents from the Gugusan Dedap low cost apartment in solidarity and demanded that building works to be stopped.
Dr.Nasir joined the protest . He congratulated them for organizing the protest. " It is your right to protest, let the people 's voice be heard! " he said. Nasir in previous meetings with the residents told them that it is not his voice which is going rattle the Hypermarket owner but rather the voices of the people. He spoke about the power of people coming together against the giant.
The peaceful protest ended at about 12.00pm was followed by a press conference at the Gugusan Dedap flats. At the press conference, Dr.Nasir stressed that " Carrefour shouldn't be build here, this is a residential area. Has the local council consulted the local residents on the proposed project? " Has there been a comprehensive study done on the traffic flow, parking, environmental implications before such a project is given the green light ?",questioned Dr. Nasir.
"We want to know how such a project got approved, we want to get to the bottom if this!" If there is hanky panky, we demand it to be stopped! promised Dr. Nasir to the residents.
Having heard about the protest, MBPJ immediately called Dr.Nasir by phone to inquire about the protest. Dr. Nasir demanded that work must be stopped first before a dialogue session is held with Carrefour, PKNS, MBPJ and the residents. MBPJ promised to issue a stop work order on Monday and arrange a dialogue session with the residents as soon as possible.
Many residents were very happy to see their new State Assemblyman in the street with them. The protest today was testament of PSM attitude in trying to establish peoples’ power in Kota Damansara and Sungai Siput where the local people will play an important role in fighting for their rights. The people do not end their task after voting but continue to play a decisive role in politics.
Sivarajan
PSM Kota Damansara
12 April 2008