Malacca residents to march for change

RESIDENTS of Malacca Road Informal Settlement will march later this month to protest what they term ‘unfair treatment by the municipality’. One of the biggest frustrations felt by the residents is the lack of houses promised to them last year. In May, the housing department announced it would be relocating 39 families to the Cornubia development.

However, the proposed move has been delayed with the city citing construction delays as the major problem. Now residents of the settlement are demanding their voices be heard. They have also asked for jobs as well proper ablution facilities, because toilets at the settlement have now stopped flushing.

“We were promised houses, but we are still here. We were told the electricity department would give us electricity but that still has not happened. I think people take us for granted because we live in shacks, but the reality is we are people and deserve fair treatment,” said Khumbulani Mbili, who has lived in Malacca for the past five years.

For Jabu Mjaja, the promise of change and the dream of finally owning a house have turned into a nightmare.

“My parents have lived here since the 1980s and everyone promised change. But every year, it came to nothing. Last year I thought my dream was coming true, but now I know it was all lies. We want the residents, the city and the councillor to hear our voice and listen to the plight of our people in Malacca. It feels like we are going nowhere,” he said.