Squatting in Malaysia
Squatting in Malaysia is the occupation of unused or derelict buildings or land without the permission of the owner. Squatting began after World War II and is governed by various laws. Recently, the government has announced its intention to house squatters in affordable housing. History Before World War II, there was not much squatting in Malaysia. Squatting by displaced people increased during the Japanese occupation between 1941 and 1945. Whilst fighting for independence from the British Empire, the Malayan National Liberation Army (MNLA) found support amongst the 500,000 Chinese squatters living on the edge of the jungle. To counter the threat, the squatters were forcibly resettled into camps. After the Malayan Declaration of Independence in 1957, squatting in Malaysia increased as the country industrialised and many people moved from the countryside to the capital Kuala Lumpur. Squatters occupied government land and infill sites such as railway cuttings and swampy land. By the 1970s, estimates of the number of squatters in Kuala Lumpur ranged from 175,000 to 225,000 people. In 1973, 80% had no electricity, 75% no running water and 35% no sewerage. Legality The National Land Code 1965 (Section 425) defined squatting as occupation of land without permission from the