Photos by a kind soul
1600: The developer, Nusmetro, has held a press conference in George Town. It denies there was any legal agreement to hold back demolition, according to a reporter at the scene. Only a court order can hold it back, argues Thomas Chan of Nusmetro. The developer is giving the residents until Friday to vacate the land.
Tonight, during its meeting with the residents, the state government is expected to present a more detailed settlement proposal to the villagers, which would probably involve getting the villagers to co-exist next to the Oasis project.
This morning, about 150 residents formed a human barricade at the village when they heard that a demolition team was not far away. Eye-witnesses spotted about 30 white-helmeted workers wearing lime-green T-shirts with the words “SRE Ventures Contractor” and wielding sledge-hammers; some of them appeared to be foreign workers. But no bulldozers were seen and the demolition team failed to show up in the village.
About 100 police personnel observed the villagers forming the barricade.
1205: A clarification/correction from Himanshu: It was a legal agreement in the presence of the CPO, the court bailiff or registrar, a developer’s rep and a residents association rep not to engage in vacant posssession or demolition until the application to the Federal Court for a revision of its earlier decision has been disposed of. The letter from the Federal Court agrees to the application and has fixed 18 August for preliminary mention.
Meanwhile, the Chief Minister will be holding a meeting with the villagers at 7.30pm (and not 10.30 as mentioned earlier).
1145: A miraculous turn of events: a document has been delivered to the villagers from the Federal Court that effectively holds back vacant possession of the land and demolition of the homes, pending a revision of the last Federal Court decision, which denied the land to the villagers. The application for revision, filed by lawyer Darshan Singh, will be heard on 18 August. So there will be no demolition until that legal avenue has been exhausted, it would appear.
Balik Pulau MP Yusmadi announced this startling news after meeting the CPO, a developer’s representative, and the secretary of the village committee, according to Himanshu Bhatt, northern region editor of theSun, who is at the scene.
1035: Apparently, there is not going to be any demolition – at least for today, according to another source. From what I hear, Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng will be holding a meeting with the residents at 10.30pm.
Meanwhile, half a dozen FRU trucks, presumably on standby, were spotted along a side road, off the coastal highway.
0951: Emotions are running high in Kg Buah Pala. Villagers have put up human barricades, according to an eye-witness there.
Earlier, villagers confronted a TNB staff and asked him what he was trying to do there. He said he was just there on standby.
Deputy CM Ramasamy is at the scene trying to calm the villagers. About 40 police personnel are also present.
The villagers want answers: what happened to the probe on alleged fraud? why can’t Section 116 be used…?
Ramasamy has told the villagers there would be a meeting with the residents this evening.
0910: Deputy Chief Minister Ramasamy arrives, quells tense atmosphere, saying the developer has agreed to hold back demolition for now, according to an eye-witness.
In the meantime, to help out the villagers in their daily living expenses, perhaps Vel Paari and MIC should just give them the RM3.2 million, no? Cakap saja, playing with your own people’s destiny by showing off the money, no conscience at all.
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The persons who is to be blamed for all this mess is Koh Tsu Koon and Teng Chang Kim. We shall remember this come GE13!
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some people over here really hate lim guan eng. For everything they blame him yet the real culprit hands off.
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I agree with you Ex Neutral. BN started all this but the DAP led PR govt needs to bear some blame too. The transfer of land took place after PR govt took office, tht can’t be denied. LGE clearly failed to stop the transfer. and why was LGE so adamant not to meet the residents with their lawyers. I am not a racist, but would LGE react the same way if a chinese village is at the verges of demolition??
and as i said earlier, what was MIC doing when negotiations for sale was going on during the previous BN govt.
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Ex Neutral,
your name says it. With a name like that how can you comment objectively.
Yes the previous state govt started this mess but they are no longer in power. Only the govt in power can do it and that is for the PR govt to do.
Of course the previous govt actions must be investigated and the culprits brought to book.
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All you commentors here who are chastising the villagers for making “unreasonable demands”, please tell what those unreasonable demands are. Have you spoken to the villagers to find out what their demands are. And how did you conclude they are unreasonable. Is there any written evidence of the compensation offer.To my knowledge none of the media have interviewed the villagers and fully reported their side of the story.
It is obvious that many have bought properties in this project. Dont demonise the villagers for your personal greed and selfishness.
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I like to suggest here how we can solve the KG Buah Pala problem. Instead of talking about the complexity of the problem, why don’t we ask Pakatan Rakyat to form a national donation to help the resident in KG Buah Pala. Since the developer want RM1.5 million. Each individual in the country can donate at least RM 2.00 since our country have 24million people. Don’t tell me we can even reach 7 million people to donate!.
It time to help our fellow citizen from difficulty and this action will silence political parties that at war to achieve their selfish interest. Pakatan Rakyat who have lack of fund can stand strong to work together with the rakyat to help back the poor rakyat.
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Sorry for wrong calculation here. The developer want RM150million. Rakyat of 7.5million people can donate RM20.00!!
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Sorry for wrong calculation here. The previous comment stated that the develop want 1.5milliong is actually 150million and the amount of each individual suppose to donate is RM20.00.
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Seems Like every one is pitting race before facts and truth. A true champion of human rights will seek to to fight injustice even before the person dying in custody, or the race that is being opressed turns out to be a someone of his own race. Evil is random. It has to be faught regardless
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the fire was burning now.
the fire starter and the rescue team both need to be responsible to the victim.
the fire starter need to be punished later and the fire fighter need to find the best solution to settle.
of course we can comment or blame anyone, but why not we contribute some useful suggestion to help on solving this matter?
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I think most of us, at least me as an outsider, sympathize deeply towards the KBP villagers…
I personally think that they deserve to keep their land… and I’m sure anyone (presumably soft-hearted) listening to the stories of the villagers think so too…
Sadly the issues had been hijacked by the political parties and the so called NGOs, so much so that negotiations are no longer the way to settle things… rather, confrontations, confuses and the “with a stroke of pen” had worsened the whole situation.
I personally think that the state government is handling the case well, through series of negotiation even though their hands were bounded. I don’t think land acquisition is really feasible, as it not just involves monetary issues (yeah, you kidding me, 3 millions is little), but also set a dire precedent to all other land issues in and out of the state. I don’t think there exists a government on earth that can make populists sustainable…
It is funny how some people think a politician caught up in such situation could sleep well when he or she would be the biggest loser if the issue wasn’t handled well…
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Whatever the ending….The state govt of Pg will end up the loser….and directly it means all Penangite will suffer as a result of the action of previous BN state govt headed by Koh T.K. The Penang people (through the state fund) will in the end have to pay compensation either to the developer for delay (if the land is legally theirs to develope) or to the Co-operative for (allegedly) fraudulently selling the land to them (if the land cannot be sold in the first place). The BN govt took the prime land at Farquhar Street which originally belong to the co-operative and exchange this Kg Buah Pala land to them. The BN state govt thought they can pass the problem to the co-operative (who are innocent/uninform buyer) but due to the loss in the 12th GE, everything evil of the BN state govt is finally revealed.
This is the fact and BN no matter what should be held responsible for all the problems created for the Kg Buah Pala residents, the co-operative, the developer, the buyers of the Oasis units and all Penangites. As such, we should continue to reject BN at all elctions be they at State or Federal levels.
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Eagle-eagle,
I gues you are right to a certain degree. LGE was slow in his action. In fact he should go public regarding the transfer of land title 18 days into his office. But he failed to do it. He should explain to the villagers why he accepted the final payment. I am very against his silence.
But you got to be fair to him. He minght not be in the thick of action until Hindraf came into the picture. but before that he has his able DCM2 Prof Ramasamy doing the negotiation. Mind you Ramasamy is an ho9nest and sincere person.
What I heard from the public is that most of the villagers were quite happy with the compensation of RM200,000 until there some agitators come along.Maybe it is a blessing in disguise because this cause the renegotiation of the compensation.
On the other hand, with so many wanting a share of the publicity , the villagers will be more instigated against whatever compensattion agreed upon. This is usually the case. It is the onlookers who are not satisfied and urged the victims to demand more.
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if guan eng cannot revoke the permit and land, use his CM power to stop the project, it is slowly proving to us voters that he supports development pro-UMNO and he is NOT helping the (marginalised minorities)… in Penang. He is showing us voters pro PR that he DAP is colloborating with UMNO BN GERAKAN.
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Why so difficult for guan eng to make one decision and stand for rakyat? he must remember that DAP PR in only 16months old bot 16years, he still needs to show suport for pro PR voters, not supporting BN GERAKAN UMNO.
Just simply revote all status. So hard meh?
Be brave. If hecant means that within DAP PKR there agenda to want development. As it is, even PKR DUNS some are seeing pro-UMNO becoz lame duck in its constituency.
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Guan eng must make one decision to gain more voter and sweep all in Penang next GE. Dont be contented with one term ruling Penang. GUAN ENG PLS DONT STAY ON THE FENCE.
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LGE is here for two terms – to see the demise of MIC with the kuncu kuncu of t-mohan and samy velu. Eat your heart out
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… Kg Buah Pala: Can you sell something that you don’t own?
http://www.aliran.com/index.php?id=973:kg-buah-pala-can-you-sell-something-that-you-dont-own-&option=com_content&catid=84:2009-5&Itemid=10
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I’m a PSM member, JERIT coordinator and a harsh critic of taking a racial analysis on a problem, but as someone who has been involved on the ground in Kg Buah Pala over the past few months, I think I need to say something about Hindraf, in particular the volunteers who came from all over the country over the past few critical days.
From conversations with them and fellow PSM members, they have been involved in other grassroots struggles around Malaysia and are sincere activists who are doing this because they care, not for mere political gain.
If you really want to identify troublemakers, look for certain village committee leaders that seem to antagonise DAP while undernegotiating; and when they do, fail to keep the rest of the village involved and informed. This is a challenge for PSM and JERIT as well – the internal democratisation of their community for the benefit of the marginalised community members.
And then there’s also MIC who are not involved, but are talking a lot.
There is of course, the selfish coalition of Koperasi and Nusmetro, who work together in trying to intimidate and threaten the villagers.
Lastly, there is the State, that has blundered in not having the CM come down to the ground to meet them; and has also failed to realise that he should not fear sabotage from civil servants within the State Gov departments when the villagers of Kg Buah Pala are willing to be behind him if he can solve their problem.
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This Thomas Chan of Nusmetro make me sick. Penang should make life miserable for him. There are so many ways the state govt can hound him. From parking fines, any slight infringement to issue summons….
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Anil, why you are so afraid to publish comments? I think you shall either publish it by full or never at all.
You are not responsible for any comments make by your readers.
Not quite true, the last bit. I will be coming up with guidelines for commenting soon. – Anil
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Kris
My take to you is this – don’t be used by Hindrafs and MIC. I see you in almost every demo by the residents. I feel strongly as a Penangite the real pest in this issue is BN. So, if you wish to take the struggle for the residents, be the bridge between the state and the residents. Talk to the people who are directly involved in the state govt and offer solutions. Arrogance is the last thing you should worry about. People can afford to seek medical treatment in UK while the residents form human barricade. I think I have had it with this Hindraf movement. It started well. Now they join forces with MIC. That makes them even (more suspect). If you are close to the residents, tell them this. Everyone in Penang is concerned about them. COncerned that they are being used by BN to cover BN’s faults. WHy no demo against UMNO? or Even Koperasi or neustmetro. Act fair and the whole world will act the same way. Last nite, thousands of Penangites were hurt. Hurt because the demo went to CM’s house. Why can’t they do it at Komtar. After all, 8 pm, that place is so quiet. You can even lie on the road without having a car run you down. So, my take is this. The commitee members are a bunch of jokers. Please make sure they won’t have the last laugh. The residents will see it but they are afraid of this… Thamaraj. I suggest you get your facts right. Whatever ideals you may have, you should channel it to the right avenue. The federal court ruled in favor of the developer. You demand the state to pay! you must be joking. If that happens, I will be the first to move out of Penang. What an idiotic thinking especially when it comes to logical thinking. Grow up! MIC / Gerakan and all of their cronies are dying. They are using JERIT as their oxygen. Cut it loose and dissect the parasite away from your organization – HINDRAF LOVES TO USE KIDS. Anyway, you are no gandhi and neither are the rest of the the lot. I recommend that the residents fire the committee members – work with the right people like yourself and pray that sanity prevails. I heard the foul language used against Prof Ramasamy. They are not the residents. They are (allegedly) from the MICkey mouse club. You better don’t end up like them! Take my advise. My vote is still fresh for the Pakatan….
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Well I think I would give the benefit of the doubt for Kris Khaira insight as an activist to be fair.
I would although think that LGE has been a victim of being the CM of just a year old. Those that have really work in gov’t institutions would know that there are certain policies and procedures to adhere to in performing their responsibilities. If they do not follow, then actions could be taken on them, and for a CM, political action/pressure/accusation are taken by the the oppositions (BN particularly).
OK, as a Malay, I think that all this problems had been started a long time ago by UMNO and their goons. How many settlements which had been demolished in Selangor/KL/Perak and so forth. The problem is now that we have to realize that, and don’t think of getting them back to power.
As for the KBP people, I think its better for you guys to take the huge compensation given (as many other would dream to have RM200k or more) and move on to a better lifestyle/environment.
-my two cents from UK
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Anil
What is there to stop the State Govt from having the State equivalent of a Royal Commission of Inquiry to ferret out the truth and get to the bottom of this fracas?
After all, Derek Fernandez has given them a lease of life with his discovery that the land has restricted usage caveats that bar just any type of commercial development.
LGE can make an announcement tomorrow after consulting with the State leagle eagles and pre-empt all these threats of demolition. This is exactly what PM Najib did over TBH’s death to stop wild accusations against the MACC and to buy some time.
So, could you call LGE and get them to strategise on it immediately?
dpp
We are all of 1 race, the Human Race. That is all that really matters.
Good point. Many are wondering if the state government has really explored Derek’s lead. – Anil
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