The Kg Buah Pala villagers have been portrayed as greedy, demanding, and unreasonable. This is partly due to the mixed signals coming from the committee, the seemingly conflicting statements and misrepresentations of those speaking on their behalf including those with vested interests and even those in the state government.
Guan Eng even claimed – incorrectly as it turned out – the villagers want RM3.5 million bungalows or compensation. Where did he get that from? But the damage is already done as it is all over the media.
As a result of such statements in the media by those intent on portraying the villagers as greedy – and the village committee’s own public relations blunders along with outsiders taking advantage – public opinion may have swayed against the villagers.
I have been to the village a few times, and I have never heard of a demand for RM3.5 million bungalows or any similar demand.
I did see the RM3.5 million figure mentioned once, in one of the handouts given. But look at the context: that was when the residents were reacting to accusations that they were greedy. They retorted that the real greedy parties were those who were coveting their respective property lots, some of which they claimed could be worth an average of RM3.5 million. That’s quite different from purportedly asking for compensation of RM3.5 million or demanding a RM3.5 million bungalow.
I contacted Sugumaran, the residents’ committee chairperson, for comment and he said the claim that the villagers wanted RM3.5 million bungalows is baseless. “They are just using that figure to turn public opinion against the villagers and to portray us as unreasonable,” he lamented.
Few have actually walked in their shoes and lived in the village to experience what life is like for them. It’s a different life-style closer to nature than what most city folk can understand – and I don’t claim to fully understand it either. Only the villagers know their real situation and what they really need to continue living in dignity, if and when they are wrenched apart not only from their homes but their land, their livelihoods and their community.
//Declaring KBP as a heritage site is well within the scope of the state govt. Who is stopping them from doing so?
I am not aware of funds coming from overseas. Would you care to elaborate?//
Hahaha..really?Come on..folks @ Buah Pala are axiously waiting for Wayhta to annouce that Buah Pala is a heritage site..yes folks,the cerita is money has been collected,and “delagtes have been sent to London..:-)..btw,are u aware of the UNESCO’s conditions?:-)
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eagle eye,
What happend to samy’s promise?He did offer RM3.2 million, didnt he? (A village committee member) offered a whopping RM40 million!!So the question is,what has happend to RM3.2 million plus RM 40 million? Cudah mashook kah ke dalam akaun settlers of “tamil high chapperal”?..the clock is ticking..tick tock..any day any time..Nustmetro,a company of BN will tear down the KBP..
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Hello k,
Why are you so worried about LGE’s reputation?..The issue is about the settlers of KBP..let GE13 decide LGE’s fate..at the moment,the clock is ticking man..tick tock tick tock..the countdown has started..any day any time,Nusmetro,a BN company will demolish KBP..
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People, if you have time, listen to what I heard from the horses’ mouths.
1) The 3.5million was stated in a press statement from the resident. It said in the statement that the piece of land that each house sits on is worth abt 3.5M and that’s why the developer is so keen to tear down their houses. Somehow, one way or another, two newspapers picked this out as a claim. Some people read the paper, called the CM and told him they are claiming such amount. The CM then, at a press conference (which I was there to video) said people called him they are claiming 3.5M. So, that’s how the misunderstanding arise. I heard Mr. Sugu made a police report about it. So, that’s the whole story of the 3.5M.
2) As for the 116 (D), i.e. the court order to stop demolition, as a citizen journalist, I was as curious as all of you to know why it wasn’t filed when we explicitly heard it will be done. So, I tried to get the DCM 2 to explain to me why. He couldn’t officially state the reason. Why? Because when you are in a peace talk, you cannot do this. So, I guess it is because the state government is pleading, and yes, it is YB Mansor who had a hard time getting the developer to agree to give the ex-gratia compensation, they cannot file it. It is like trying to make peace with the developer to give something good to the villagers so you cannot at the same time, give them a punch with 116(D). This of course, is my own understanding based on what I managed to eke out before I was told the ‘No comment’.
3) As for the claims that media have stopped reporting, well, I had been to both Komtar and Buah Pala since June 2nd, their very first picketing and by now, there is almost nothing new that we haven’t heard of. So, if there are less reports, it is because there is really nothing much to report anymore.
4) Though I truly sympathize with the real villagers of KPB, some of you guys cannot deny the fact that many political parties have tried to make the issue their political agenda. And you also cannot deny that some of the villagers too have been known to change their minds faster than lightning.
5) Finally, if we stopped looking at every side and everyone as the good guy-bad guy, we probably will argue less and feel more for the villagers.
And K – thank you for acknowledging the roles of citizen journalists. I noticed you mentioned citizen reporters in your comment above. Yes, I report what I see and I cannot possibly twist words because those are videos. I cannot put words into Darshan Singh, Lim Guan Eng, Prof. Ramasamy, Uthayakumar, Raj, Sugu’s mouths. The only thing that get twisted and divided are people’s mind whom already see everything as good guy-bad guy. As far as I am concerned, a lot of media members have been acting like mediators. We bring the villagers’ concerns to Komtar, we pressed them for answers because those are some of the things we know the villagers want to know.
One last thing – If you guys are so into good guy-bad guy epic, the bad guy is Barisan Nasional who alienated the land in a ‘suspicious manner and sold it’ (Sugumaran’s own words). The good guy, well….all good guys are dead. There are no good guys in this world. Grow up, will ya?
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Yes about the unfortunate Thai lady,she also didn’t agree with the court decision and I think everyone in Penang knew that was a clear forgery. Do you know what happened to this Thai lady in end, go find out. Knowing very well that the court is going to be against the villages, it is better to take up whatever best that comes your way.I really sympathize with these villagers but what is done is done, you can rant/shout/protest/sent many memos /accuse anyone or everyone/encourage people to fight another day or all the days but nothing changes the court’s decisions unless by some miracle( human intervention)that decides otherwise. Hope for the best for everyone involved.
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thanks Lilian,
Egle.. now you get this?
//2) As for the 116 (D), i.e. the court order to stop demolition, as a citizen journalist, I was as curious as all of you to know why it wasn’t filed when we explicitly heard it will be done. So, I tried to get the DCM 2 to explain to me why. He couldn’t officially state the reason. Why? Because when you are in a peace talk, you cannot do this. So, I guess it is because the state government is pleading, and yes, it is YB Mansor who had a hard time getting the developer to agree to give the ex-gratia compensation, they cannot file it. It is like trying to make peace with the developer to give something good to the villagers so you cannot at the same time, give them a punch with 116(D). This of course, is my own understanding based on what I managed to eke out before I was told the ‘No comment’.//
peacetalk, understanding, negotiating. BE NICE! all for what? to get the best deal for the villagers. understood?
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lilian,
The good guy,well.. all the good guys are dead, there are no good guys in this world.—I like this.
True how very true. Maybe there are pretend good guys la
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Nil,
The DAP is a Chinese party first. DO you think we would be fighting the Penang Government if it was the last Chinese heritage village?
Honestly DAP supporters will we???
Lim Guan Eng has proven himself to be just another …. politician.
What a disgrace he has turned out to be…
Once he threw out that $3.5m figure all the racist DAP supporters went into a frenzy.
He … knew that will happen. But he said it anyway.
Bottom line is: … LGE has not even set foot in Kampung Buah Pala …
Well it’s too bad the (villagers) in KBP don’t have a pig abattoir on the land then.
Penangites (of all races) deserve better unbiased … leadership!!!
IF the oldest and last Indian Village thats over 200 years old is destroyed then may the DAP be (finished) too.
Instant Karma is a bitch…
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Lilian you might as well stop this bulls… about being a journalist…
We can tell you are a DAP supporter and worship LGE so … stop making excuses for … LGE.
Go home.
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Lillian
I m sorry if I am going to be blunt but it is hard to give any credibility to whatever you say or going to say after your “involvement” in this saga. The fundamental ethics of journalism calls for an objective and a non-partisan approach for the journos. Unfortunately you not only broke this Golden Rule but also seems to be actively trying to set the agenda and shape public opinion for the CM and against the villagers.
Let’s look at your pathetic excuses in your post above. This post alone, in trying to justify the CM, already betrayed your true alleigence. As a citizen journalist, why do you need to justify the CM’s positions and actions ? If clarifications is what you intend to do, don’t you think you should do for both parties ?
Let me ask you here. What’s your role here in explaining, as a citizen journo or LGE’s PR person ?
In any case, let me tear these lame and pathetic excuses to piece.
1. Can a CM make a statement based on hearsay in such a serious issue ? Shouldn’t a responsible person make such a serious allegation without checking ? The exact statement by LGE showed that the residents demanded Rm 3.5 Million compensation. LGE had many many closed-door meeting with the residents and he knew their positions and yet he suddenly brings out the amount of Rm3.5 Million of sudden. Lillian, I am sorry to say this is pure and unadulterated “spin”.
2. Court order. This is another blatant lie by the LGE admin. If this was not issued, then why did he not practice his much-hyped CAT by admitting the truth? If such omission is an exception then one can accept but we have seen too many such lies to get fooled.
3. Nothing new ? Are you staying in the same planet as we are or in a different planet and galaxy called LGE ? I had been reading the NST, MI and the Tamil media and they had been carrying tons of news been daily. BTW where were you last Sunday evening when there was this big event that had many invited speakers who revealed the truth about the KBP issue ??
4. Political parties involved ? Does this mean that once political parties get involved then the govt of the day should absolve its responsibilities ? Would you accept if BN uses the same maxim ? You as a citizen reporter should know that some of the parties involved were a part of Pakatan and not just BN. There were PSM and PKR and even some PAS folks. You should also know that LGE only dealt with KBP resident assoc and not the politicians. That’s why he refused to allow outsiders to get involved. Imagine now in the case of Teoh Beng Huat. Let’s say the BN govt disallow members of Pakatan to get involved in any way since they are politicians. Would you accept this ??
5. Lillian it is you and the DAP govt is looking this issue as “Us vs Them” and so concerned about the impact to Pakatan and LGE’s image due to this issue.All of us here had been only fighting for justice and a fair deal.
I really have nothing against you and you certainly have the right to political belief. However, Penangites and Malaysians are much more aware of those political spinmasters now. We are no longer so easily hoodwinked by the propagandists.
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Wow! Anil,
“Most commented this week
Kg Buah Pala: That RM3.5 million figure… (130)
Kg Buah Pala: The compensation offered (72)
Buah Pala residents agree in principle, but… (72)
Uncertainty grips Kg Buah Pala (updates) (64)
Reprieve for Kg Buah Pala! (updates) (59)”
Wow! Wow! Wow!
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nkkhoo
August 10th, 2009 at 11.33pm
You are talking rule by law. No wonder, this country is downgrading… with people like you believe the rule by law can legalize land transfer to Koperasi.
With this trend continues, BN and PR governments can sell any land not belonging to them.
————-
nkkhoo, you amazed me to the max. Without rule and law you think you can sit infront of your computer and typing comments?… Look sweetheart, be realistic. Don’t live in your fantasy world. This is how thing’s work. Face it. Everything has it weakness and flaw. There is some murderer there the court dismiss the case, there is some innocent who is in jail.
the issue here about KBP is not about who is wrong and who is right. It is about SAVING the villagers, a shelter! not the village. At least get them a deal of “SOMETHING” rather than nothing. A double storey terrace ain’t a bad deal at all.
Koperasi is the land owner. That is a fact now. So focus on the villagers. those children and old folks. if the developer came tomorrow and demolish the village, what will you do? let me guess, sit and keep on talking. You can’t do s… and they are left without anything. So don’t pretend to be angelic when they don’t exist.
p/s: how you define a country going backward? and forward?
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K – Oh dear, you have a lot of time to analyse things, don’t you?
1) I was there to meet Uthayakumar and told him how honoured I felt to finally meet him in person bcos I had long admired him for his tenacity in fighting for the downtrodden.
2) I put up the whole speech of Darshan because I feel he deserves to be heard.
3) It is not based on hearsay. Just because you didn’t hear, you think it is hearsay. The CM produced newspapers that quoted the RM3.5 M. There is video made by my fellow CJ.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QeEF5RWoktI
And thanks for the praises you piled on me being PR spokesperson. I hope Anwar Ibrahim, Lim Kit Siang and Tok Guru read this. Woohoo! I wonder how many people worked tirelessly to get that kind of ‘honour’ and I merely need to make a couple of videos to earn this statement. Now, which ADun should I contest in the next GE. *laff till fall off chair*
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………. and now we turn to lilian bashing time.
Everyone, please stick to the issues and the content. – Anil
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“Some people read the paper, called the CM and told him they are claiming such amount. The CM then, at a press conference (which I was there to video) said people called him they are claiming 3.5M. So, that’s how the misunderstanding arise.”
Lilian,
“Some people” ????? who lah ? .. Why LGE didn’t confirm the message by “Some people” with his DCM1,DCM2, exco… before saying it to the media. This reminds me of that Datuk Anifah Aman @ Haniff Amman during press meeting at U.S State Department office with secretary Hilary Clinton recently.
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==
Sorry, seem you have problem to comprehend the rule by law and the rule of law.
Yes, Koperasi is the land owner under the … law. This reality only can be happened under the nose of LGE.
Now LGE and his gang are trying to be angel for KBP residents….
If you don’t know what is forward and backward, then please consult LKS, who is talking a lot on this issue.
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i am sorry lilian chan ,i just don’t trust you.Anil netto is a true social justice reporter even before the kampung buah pala issue based on his previous articles and history.so ,i trust his judgement on this.
you know what really makes my blood boil ,all this for a LUXURY condo????development ???win-win situation????
greedy people here are the developers and the people who would like to buy a LUXURY condo unit in a island where LAND is SCARCE….
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Erm mr khoo sweetheart, in this world everything is rule BY law. This is what the law is for, to prevent peoples like you to try and be superman.
Oh well, oh well, so before the land own by Koperasi, are you implying that the land BELONG to the villagers?
LGE is not trying to be the angel, the state government is just RESPONDING to villagers plea for help. That is a duty of government to their people. You are the one trying to be an angel.
Mr. Khoo, Mr. Khoo.. i am asking you, your defination. Do not bring LKS into it, you can’t compare your view with him. You are just another Mr. Khoo.
Anyway, case closed now. 4 signed. So the demolition can take place now. You can be the angel again by helping the rest of the 20 families. You will right?
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sam – When you become a reporter, go ask lah. I am merely relaying what I heard because so many people are claiming the figure is plucked out of thin air. It is not because there is a press statement signed by Tamaraj.
Unclebuck – Biasaler, people are constipated all the time and I am free today to entertain them.
I forget to tell K, he asked me where I was on Sunday night. Well, I was at the front row, on the left, face to face with Uthayakumar from 7.30 to 11 pm. 80% of the forum was in Tamil but I hang around because I believed sitting behind the computer and whacking people are not productive. I made two videos, of Uthaya and Darshan’s speeches and each had garnered over 20K views. Now, K, what were you doing then?
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lilian,
nowadays the teenage girls like says this:
” you go girl “
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Interesting..”k” and egale eye are not answering my questions..I wonder why?
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Dear Penangnite
The Only person who can solve the Sherlock Holmes “Who Done it” mystery is YB Lim Guan Eng.
Lets not speculate and sling mud at each other and the politician laughing away….
YB Lim Guan Eng should declassify all documents and EXCO minutes including PAKATAN EXCO minutes on Kg BUah Pala Land.
After all, YB Lim Guan Eng have been preaching CAT..
and in the name of Transparencies…
PENANG PEOPLE DEMAND YB LIM GUAN ENG TO DECLASSIFY ALL DOCUMENTS ON KG BUAH PALA.. not just only BN EXCO minutes!!!
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Dear Penang People
YB Lim Guan Eng is playing … politics in Penang and to divide and rule Penangnites..
He intend to isolate the Kg Buah Pala Villagers…
It was calculated action by YB Lim Guan Eng to steamroll the Kg Buah Pala because (the villagers are a marginalised group) in Penang and (the majority) will be least perturbed and ” Tak Tau”
He bars LAWYERS to represent Villagers…
YB Lim Guan Eng using his friendly media is painting the Villagers as greedy and unreasonable to suppress the public support for the Villagers and to avoid the truth for public awareness..
The FACT IS YB LIM GUAN ENG GOVERNMENT PARTICIPATED IN THE LAND (DEAL) OF KG BUAH PALA… DARE HIM TO PUBLISH ALL DOCUMENTS AND DAP EXCO MINUTES ON KG BUAH PALA!!!!
The Truth here is that the YB Lim Guan Eng is practicing Capitalist governance in Penang whom shall marginalize all poor and middleclass penangnites in due time like in Singapore… How many penangnites can buy RM 300,000.00 worth apartment at Kg Buah Pala…??
YB Lim Guan Eng is going to sell every piece of Penang to the Highest Bidder… all the Penang Hill, Sea sides , Kampungs, are (likely) to be sold to the rich!!
Please ask yourself why Tan Kok Ping is so supportive of Penang DAP???
In Selangor, the State and Federal is always logging heads at every issues… Y is it so silent in Penang!!!
BE WARNED THAT THERE IS COALITION GOVERNMENT OF BN $ DAP in PENANG !!!
YB JAGDEED was thrown out of assembly for accusing BN of Land Scam!!! Y (are they) protecting BN Ybs????
WHEEL OF KARMA IS SLOW BUT IT IS ABSOLUTE!!!
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Is it normal to give promises, then break them? Moreover if you are a CM that people really trust? I feel it was still acceptable if Mr. CM told the villagers the truth since the beginning that the village deal is all over and nothing can be done about it. But, the CM did not do that…instead he PROMISED he would cancel the land transaction.
But then the land transaction still happened. The villagers felt helpless. Now, Mr. CM worked out a deal for compensation for the villagers. But, the compensation actually creates new problems; the rentals while waiting, huge KBP families (65 families and not 24), place for livestock.
Then, there is this RM500K worth house issue. Well, it is not the value of the houses that really matter. The houses that they are going to get after 2 years don’t solve their present problems. The matter is the predicaments while getting the houses. Penangites themselves agree that property and rental prices are high. The truth is there are some whom are really poor there in the village. What would they do? Roam homeless? They must be helped. This is why they want to keep the land. The houses after 2 years don’t help them now.
Furthermore, there is no guarantee that they will get the houses, since a clause in the agreement says that the villagers will not get anything if the project fails or doesn’t take off for any reason. How if the land is sold to a new company for development?
These are some of the things that we cannot predict but may happen.
Great power comes with great responsibilities. Words given or said affect a lot of people. Promises were given, and the villagers trusted. Now, when the CM claimed that the villagers demanded for RM3.5 million, the general public believed this, when in actual fact the villagers never made any such demand. This is the intensity of words that come from people with power. Unfortunately, sometimes this brings lots of damages, just like in the case of KBP.
Mr. CM, this is a question of integrity. Words given must be fulfilled. Twisting stories to cover up the mess done and gain the general public support for your advantage is definitely not right, though it works. This is just like what the ^%@$#* Samy Vellu has been doing all this while with the Maika Holdings saga.
The real plight of the villagers is more about their survival. Don’t bash them by calling them names. Try to understand their root problems and come up with a reasonable solution. That is what they have been asking since the beginning.
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I am sorry to say that in Penang (on the island part) there are no more land (state land)left to sell, all been taken up during the previous bn govnmt.Those who are outside penang, let me tell a rm300,000.00 apartment will be snap-up like hot cake considering location near shopping/bridge/factory.
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