Last Updated: 4:43pm, Oct 31, 2013

MANTIN (Oct 31): DAP's Seremban MP Anthony Loke and Rasah MP Teo Kok Seong  were among about 20 people arrested here this morning as the demolition of the Kampung Hakka historic village started.

A total of six houses and a community hall were brough down by the authorities.

Negeri Sembilan assemblypersons P Gunasekaran (Senawang), Ng Chin Tsai (Temiang), Chew Seh Yong (Bahau) and Arul Jambunathan (Nilai) were among those held by police.

Also picked up were PSM secretary-general S Arutchelvan and Suaram executive director Nalini Elumalai.

Artutchelvan and Seremban PSM committee member S Gandhi were the first to be arrested and taken away in a police vehicle after they tried to stall the destruction.

Villagers, who were served with demolition notices by property developer Mega 9 Sdn. Bhd. yesterday, stood guard outside their homes from early morning.

At 9.30 am, police officers cordoned off the place with yellow tape.

Half an hour later, police ordered non-residents to evacuate the premises.

After a stand off, authorities moved in to tear down an empty house and then tore down another house.

These two houses were not among those for which demolition notices were served yesterday.- with additional reporting by Zakiah Koya.

When reporters pointed this out to the court baliff, he said he was not aware and asked that the mater be raised with the developer's lawyer.

When Loke asked the developer's lawyer for a court order, he responded "Enough!" and refused to negotiate.

"We have tried talking to the developer but they refused to listen. Legally they can do this since the Seremban High Court has sided with the developer," said Loke.

Loke believes that the state government has the power to help the situation, citing the Kg Buah Pala case in Penang as an example.

This afternoon, Gobind Singh Deo, a lawyer for the villagers, confirmed to fz.com that the Court of Appeal had just granted a stay of execution on the demolition order on the village.

Among those whose houses were demolished was 61-year-old Sedikah Bibi who had been living there for the past 45 years.

The mother of eight children barely got any sleep last night as her worst nightmares came true.

Tearful as she talked to reporters, her 32-year-old daughter explained that the demolition notice came as a shock to them, especially because the State Secretary had promised to meet with the developers this afternoon.

"Why would the developer proceed to destroy the house before the meeting? Why can't they just wait? This shows what they are thinking," said Reena.

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