By DHARMENDER SINGH, RACHEL KAM and A.RAMAN

SOME families in an estate in Sitiawan have been living without basic facilities for 42 years, Malaysia Nanban reported.

They are among 47 families who had built their houses on a 0.9ha land allocated to them by the National Land Finance Cooperative Society when the estate was taken over for redevelopment in 1967.

Most of the families had moved out but many still live there although there are no facilities. Spokesman G. Ravidevan said the villagers bought the land from the society for RM40,800 (S$56,900) after a seven-year struggle.

Ravidevan said the land was classified as "agricultural land", adding that to convert it was a major problem. He urged the Perak government to look into the villagers' plight.