From a source, I hear that the following compensation was offered to the villagers at tonight’s meeting:
Two-storey cluster houses: upstairs – 600 square feet; downstairs – 600 sq feet; outside porch, etc – 200 sq feet.
The developer would allocate 0.7 acres of the 6.5 acres for the villagers’ houses.
No compensation for temporary rental reimbursement while the project is ongoing.
A few may have agreed; others, who may have a few families living under one roof, are uncertain.
Instead of this 0.7 acres, the residents had asked the state for two acres of adjacent land. But they were told that that was state reserve land and it would create a bad precedent. This they felt was unfair, given the unique circumstances of this case.
Meanwhile, they have a date with the Federal Court on 18 August on one side, while on the other, the developer has given them until Friday to leave.
People,
Just to share with you the happennings in Singapore. Just like kampung Buah Pala.In Toa Payoh & Balestier (Whampoa), there is a large settlements. Those were squatters then plus some of them are orchard farms owners. In the 60s, PAP had embarked on massive public housing programmes. It’s true socialism in nature something people like Anil should subcribe too. PAP enforced Land Acquistion Act in which all temporary settlers plus the farmers uprooted & relocated to spanking new Housing Development Board flats. Yup, Huge protest by locals but then it’s for nation goods.
Temporary settlers given 1, 2, 3 rooms’ flats. Middle class folks gunning in for 4, 5 rooms. Masionette & executive flats come in later. The Orchard farm settlers were given HDB terrace flats. 700 square feet 2 bedroom flats.
People,
Guess how much those flats cost nowadays? Even Malaysians went to Singapore to work before 90s benefited. 4 room HDB flat costs more than S$450K. Imagine how much the landed terrace house cost there.
People,
I agree that Kampung Buah Pala folks must ensure that they got fair compensation with proper documentation. Once game set, these 30 lucky family folks would have a windfall
Which I have always say all the time
IT’S ECONOMY! STUPID! That’s how BN folks cheated us for 52 years. Focussing on economy
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“And please stop bashing Hindraf.”
excuse me..the founder of HINDRAF,… called Ramachandran hismelf has started bashing Utahya,and Waytha.What those two fellas have done for the Indian community?waytha was hiding in London on 25th of Novembar 2007 and Uthya didnt send the memo,and later “retreated” to Hotel maya.Those 2 are typical … taking advantage of the indian community’s ignorance and trust to pursue their own agendas.Time and again,waytha,in his desire to show off, talks about “apealling” to world governing bodies,submitting this and that..all drama.. want to show that he is mr bigshot..Uthaya?hah,he too now is following his brother’s foosteps,dah cabut ke London.Those two are big talk specialist!!Nothing more!!
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I think PT and Lucia should move into the 600sq feet house that is offerred to the villages.Whne it comes to others it is easy for you to give solution but when it is ur issues you make a big issue like pulling out of Pakatan i.e Kedah! If only we look further there is a solution to this if all parties don’t play politics and think about people’s lives.
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I’m not sure if 600sqft double storey was the right figure… The news report said it will be 1200 sqft per household (that’s slightly smaller than my 40-year-old house in KL)…
I did the conversion, 0.7 acre is equivalent to 1270 sqft per household (24 in total)… Which sounds logical…
The KBP villagers have perhaps few choices, to accept, or to fight a court case to show the state government that the land can be acquired back with original price (as suggested by lawyer Derek Fernandez)…
I personally think that it is not easy to win a court case on this (you know, our federal court…), but I think if KBP going to pursue this way, state government should give blessing and also aid in winning the court case… I don’t see the state government doing so though…
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get the developer to compensate the one like batu development, like the terrace houses double storey facing jalan sultan azlan shah. the Qasis make millions. WE AS RAKYAT WANT TO KNOW WHY BN CAN (GRAB) THE LAND WAS FED’s AND BE SOLD TO KOPERASI?
WHY UMNO GERAKAN?
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looes74,
Why are you blindly supporting LGE??
LGE bungled big time on this issue. KBP is a public relations disaster for LGE & DAP.
Yes, KTK/BN created this mess but they are not the sitting govt. Only the SITTING govt can clean this and it is for the PR govt to do. Of course the real culprits must be investigated and brought to book, but there is no evidence that it is being done.
The state govt should have set up a SELECT COMMITTEE to get to the bottom of this issue( ala Selangor govt on BALKIS issue). Then we will know the true picture. BUT LGE is reluctant to do that, WHY??? LGE is not looking into the (alleged) fraud angle but is only cornering the villagers to accept some compensation.
Why is the state govt reluctant to look into the (alleged) fraud???
LGE sycophants and some vested interest cybertroopers are trying to to divert the issue by demonising the villagers which is very irresponsible.
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K,
Are you or are you not a resident at Kampung Buah Pala?… Suggest you wrap yourself up in your nice blanket and talk somewhere else. I am A RESIDENT HERE. I SEE ALOT OF … NONSENSE FROM MIC AND HINDRAF FELLAS…. Scolding profanity on your own Deputy Chief Minister. Since when did MIC put an Indian as a Chief Minister before? Since when ? Tell me. Just because you hate DAP, you talk like t-mohan.I suggest you … speak somewhere else.
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To those like K who said the land deal is an (alleged) fraud and LGE should reverse it is dreaming. Yes, it may have been an (allegedly) fraudulent transaction but the court has upheld it and LGE has no power to reverse it. Buying the land back is not an option either.
It is difficult not to criticize Hindraf for being political opportunists to jump on the poor villagers’ plight for their own agenda. If Waytha and Uthaya are sincere to help, they should use their legal skills to try to find a solution instead of threatening and abusing LGE and the Penang govt at every turn.
The verbal abuse heaped on LGE by these two brothers certainly exceed any reasonable limit and speaks of their political agenda.
Fortunately Uthaya is now in U.K. which allows reasonable negotiations and possible settlement. You can be sure if he is here, he will instigate the villagers to stand firm to keep their land and make any solution impossible.
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Dear Rajan
I am not saying you are not a resident of KBP since there is no way for me prove or disprove your claim. But looking at your posts make me really suspect that you are just another DAP supporter masquerading as a KBP resident.
As for your charge that Hindraf and MIC had been a distruptive force, this is really a very unfair claim indeed. Had not for Hindraf the village would not be standing today. I don’t really have to go to details to to back up my claim as this can be easily verfied via a simple Google search. Yes, I do accept that the MIC folks came late but they too have been a source of support and additional resources unlike the Pakatan Indian MPs and ADUNs who spoke so loud before the GE but after that have gone into hiding. Though I am neither a supporter nor a member of MIC, when someone offers an helping hand it is natural that one accepts it, especially in such times of need.
Please do not complain that the residents were angry with Prof Rama the DCM2. This guy, more than anyone else (except LGE himself) symbolise the abjact failure, incompetence and broken promises of the state govt over the issue. His repeated promises were each time proven to be false and even yesterday he was promising the residents that their houses won’t be demolished when the demolition crew turned up. How do you expect the residents to trust or respect such a person ??
One thing for sure that the name and the credibility of LGE and his DAP senior leaders have been completely crushed and don’t even bother to look for us to ask our votes in the next GE. This applies to KBP residents and most nuetral Indians in Penang.
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Folks
If the deal was really a frudulant one then why LGE has not pursued that angle at all ? This only has lend credence to claim that LGE is just resorting to his usual tactics of blaming everyone but himself.
Don’t say the court has ruled otherwise since this so-called evidence by LGE so far was never disclosed even to public, much less presented during the case.
We are not stupid, and we know that LGE’s latest offer is like the Greeks bearing gifts. In the end the houses will be demolished and the residents will be homeless. In 3 months no one will remember KBP.
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Just look at the contract between the Tai Chi style management of Penang by LGE in case of KBP versus the humane way Zambry handles the same issue in Perak. This is an example of a govt that has people’s interest and welfare in heart. Though I dispute the legality of Zambry’s govt, the way he handles the issue is praiseworthy.
=====================================================
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 5 (Bernama) — The Perak State Executive Council (Exco) which met here Wednesday has decided to give automatic ownership to squatters of state land for ten years.
Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Zambry Abdul Kadir said with the decision effective immediately, the Perakians would only only need to pay quit rent.
“The decision was made as there are people who had stayed in one area for 80 years but the land still has TOL status,” he told reporters after the State Exco meeting here today.
Zambry said the state government would improve the land management system to make the people feel comfortable when dealing with the land office.
“We will introduce Key Performance Indicators (KPI) on land offices in Perak,” he said.
The menteri besar said his main agenda at land committee and district committee meetings was to achieve zero squatters.
The state government had identified several squatter areas which had become kampungs for the purpose. — BERNAMA
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Eagle eye,
If you have read all my comments, you would have known me better. Till to date, even Anil simply does not understand the real socialism. Keeping way of life alone is not the real socialism. You want real socialism, Please refer to PAP’s actions in the 60s, 70s & 80s when Malaysian born leaders such as Rajaratnam, Toh Chin Chye (same bandar that I was born) & Goh Kheng Swee. Something that I regret to say Lim Chong Eu has failed to develop Penang to be on par of Singapore.
I have always said. IT’S ECONOMY, STUPID! I don’t need to elaborate further. Perhaps, you should meditate on these words:
IT’S ECONOMY,STUPID!
I have been harping on LGE’s inability of reducing the emolument with respect to the revenue of the state. Khalid Ibrahim has understood what I have said. First thing Khalid Ibrahim said, he has reduced to below 50% revenue spent on paying civil servants’ pays. More than 60% of state revenue have been spent, no siginificant outputs! Enough of this
Eagle,
Likewise, 30 families living on a land in which the Court has decreed that the land was awarded to the developer. One of the strong factor is that these goons pay TOL fees.
Eagle,
Like it or not! Those 30 families blew it. Kapish! Now, you wanna ask LGE to pay enormous sum of money to save 300 folks. 150 million MYD. Hey, what the heck happen to 1.5 million Penangites. Considerable of them are poor. Some even lost their jobs.
Eagle,
I am sorry to be heartless. LGE’s time should be spent on saving plenty Penangites affected by bad economy. Than spending 150 million on 30 families in which they can go elsewhere. Hence, the damn Conclusion:
IT’S ECONOMY, STUPID! KAPISH!
If I am LGE’s boss, I am definitely pissed. If I were LGE, how to justify my manhour.
Eagle,
You watch Master & Commander before. Captain Jack Aubrey’s ship HMS Surprise went into strong gale in the Cape. One sailor went overboard with the main mask. Because of that, if Lucky Jack saved the sailor, the whole ship sunk……..You know what happen……..
People,
My dad was a teacher in SM Clifford, just opposite of MCKK where Anwar Ibrahim has studied. The motto of SM Clifford is
THE SHIP IS MORE THAN A CREW
Yes People,
The ship is more than a crew.
Eagle,
Pick one……1.5 Million Penangites’ welfare versus 300 KBP folks. If you were LGE, what’s your decision? Which one to save…..Please don’t damn bulls… me
Anil,
Those Toa Payoh fully appreciated that they kenna evicted & given the flats…..Now, 4 room HDB flats cost 450K SGD. I have seen how many of these Singaporeans prospered under the asset enhancement scheme.
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Ken
August 5th, 2009 at 5.24pm
To those like K who said the land deal is an (alleged) fraud and LGE should reverse it is dreaming. Yes, it may have been an (allegedly) fraudulent transaction but the court has upheld it and LGE has no power to reverse it. Buying the land back is not an option either.
======
You have purpotedly mixed up the sequence of events.
IF LGE blocked the land deal in March 2008, the court case is probably is between state government and Koperasi.
KBP residents lost the court case against Koperasi and developer mainly because state government had “legalized” the land sale with executive power.
LGE choose to bully residents instead of fighting civil servants in his adminstration for obvious political reason.
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How did Penang state government sell the land to the Koperasi when the trusteeship is believed to have passed to the Federal Government?
Can you sell something that you don’t own?
How could the Penang state government under the BN sell the Kampong Buah Pala land when “the available evidence seemed to show that the land is still vested in the Federal Lands Commissioner”
Negative elements – greed, corruption, abuse of power and judicial indifference – have conspired to wipe out part of Penang’s history and destroy its heritage.
The latest example to wipe out history and a legacy that goes back nearly 200 years and make way for greed and corruption is taking place in the Pearl of Orient: Penang’s version of High Chaparral is facing extinction within a matter of weeks.
Aliran
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looes74
I am no socialist expert but even I know that what you are proposing is not socialism but capitalism at its ugly,heartless worst.
Socialism calls for a just and equal society and no way in socialist countries a productive and heritage land would make way for a luxury condo project.
This is not putting the welfare of Penangites over KBP residents but putting commercial interests above justice, fairness, equality and above all humanity.
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Just in case IQs have dropped or otherwise gone to sleep, think it fair comment to post a gentle reminder here that in most people’s estimation, there is only one legal, valid executive state government that can effect anything legally at present that will stand up to scrutiny as being intra vires the Perak state constitution.
And that IS the lawfully elected PR state government headed by the legal MB Nizar Jamaluddin.
So if I were one of those squatters being granted a fee simple by the ultra vires head of an illegal state government brought into being through an illegal, anti-democratic coup d’etat, I wouldn’t be too hasty about uncorking my bottle of champagne/wine/toddy as yet, or coughing up any quit rent for now either.
“Imagine Power To The People” John Lennon.
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K,
Great news on Perak. I am sure you cant resist so guess this is goodbye. Maybe will run into you next time I visit Taiping.
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looes74,
“IT’S ECONOMY,STUPID!”, is not the mantra in governing a state or country. That is pure capitalism. It subscribes to the law of the jungle, survival of the fittest. You either swim or sink, no safety net. Even the most capitalists of countries in the world do not subscribe to that philosophy because it is felt that the law of the jungle is only fit for animals that act on instinct, not for humans who have that gift called ‘reason’.
LGE knew about the alleged fraud and admitted as much, can you tell me why he is reluctant to investigate the alleged fraud since he took over the govt in March 2008.
Please tell me why he is reluctant to appoint a SELECT COMMITTEE to investigate the alleged fraud. You have conveniently glossed over this point.
You are also talking about the villagers as if they are aliens. How many times do you and your ilk need to be reminded that they are people of Penang. In fact their ancestors were pioneers of Penang.
“I am sorry to be heartless. LGE’s time should be spent on saving plenty Penangites affected by bad economy. Than spending 150 million on 30 families in which they can go elsewhere. Hence, the damn Conclusion” —-looes74
looes74,
how did you arrive at the RM150 million? can you please justify that. This is still village land, how did it suddenly inflate to RM150m, what is the basis??
“If I am LGE’s boss, I am definitely pissed. If I were LGE, how to justify my manhour. ” —looes74
looes74,
The fact that LGE is spending so many manhours only shows his incompetence as CM.
If I were LGE’s boss, I would definitely be pissed as I expect my subordinate to get the job done instead of giving EXCUSES.
“THE SHIP IS MORE THAN A CREW” —-looes74
looes74,
Yes, the people are more important than the CM and his Exco. When a ship is sinking the captain is the last man to leave or he goes down with the ship. If he jumps ship before the crew he can be court martialled ( this is just for your info).
So what exactly is your point??
“Pick one……1.5 Million Penangites’ welfare versus 300 KBP folks. If you were LGE, what’s your decision? Which one to save…..Please don’t damn bulls… me” —-looes74
looes74,
That is cold, heartless UTILITARIANISM. It is anathema to social justice. Here we are talking about justice and compassion to a people whose land has been “robbed”
“Those Toa Payoh fully appreciated…..”—-looes74
looes74,
There you go comparing Penang with Singapore. Spore is a country with limited land so they have to do what they have to do. Penang is a state within a larger country with ample land resources. What is the urgency or need to turn Penang into a soulless concrete jungle like Spore. Development is not equal to a concrete jungle.
Anil,
why do you censor even a tame word like BS. you are becoming like a communist dictator.
I think you can make your point here without using such ‘choice’ words. – Anil
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People,
I need to add certain clarifications on this issue. While we have to resign to the fate that the settlers got to accept a win win solution as proposed. I have to agree that everything must be well documented so as not to leave any loopholes.
As such, with or without approval, the developer must build terrace houses for the settlers as part of the agreement.
People,
Forget about invoking the act to freeze the land for settlers. I have mentioned before….Such action can only be taken for the interest of entire Penangites. If LGE were to make such decision, proceed in building Public Housing instead. Why these 30 village familes to be benefitted? I say demolish & build public housing that houses at least 4 – 6K people. There are poor folks out there needed public housing. If Penang state fund got to be spent, be it 150 millions, 24 million or whatever…..Spend it for all Penangites
Lets call it High Chapparal Court or Kampung Buah Pala Court
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K
I have proven my point. Shut up and go elsewhere. I dare you to come and stand in front of the bulldozers with your mah chai from BN if they have the guts to do so. Or…takut your big brothers huh? Takut Samy, or the rest to hentam. I am not a supporter of DAP but at least they were sincere. I have since the hours put in. I dread the way Thamaraj arm wrestle the others. I ask him to undur…. I say this – even if my family doesn’t have a roof…I won’t blame DAp or Pakatan. Who decided to sell the land? Don’t give me … about the welfare. If you are in the meeting room with Thamaraj in there, you could see how (timid) he becomes. Don’t make me laugh. Anil – keep up the good work. At least you speak the truth unlike some. Socialism my foot. You just don’t know how it feels to be without a roof knowing some … minister now is a ruler measurement minister… STOP ALL THIS…
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I know very very sure the real culprit will get away with it..No matter how we argue.No matter how well ur blogs,views,comments,suggestion.
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Come on,villagers,wat is this.LGE beg the developer to offer you a terrace hse for you people staying in kg puah pala.You not only not satisfy,you greedy people demanded 3.5mil each house as compensation.By law,you are not entiltle single cents cos you dont own that piece of land.You are merely squatter.If that the case,I by as well go n be like squatter like you people.Terrace hse for 3.5mil.Are you people out of your mind.I appreciate LGE done his own part.And in fact he doesnt need to demand from developer.If you ask ex minister,you think you get terrace hse?Think.
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There are a lot of IFs…
Just one more if the govt of Penang is under BN today, will there be this debate and BP is wasteland since the Aug. 3. Her residents will probably get nothing, yea maybe their shirts on their back.
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The asst sec for KBP Tamaraj was formerlly an MIC Leader…. The (MIC) are the ones who agreed for the land to be sold when they were in BN. There is another guy from MIC whose family has two stalls at the market all thanks to Bn GOVT. Now standing in the back and putting people like Anil in front.
Nobody is “putting me in front”. I am just writing what I observe as a writer. – Anil
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Before you all fight and speak like no one else care, please think:
1.Who can reject the federal court? Answer no
2.Who is helping now? Answer: Penang State Government
3.Who sold the land? Answer: everyone knows, if you do not know, please ask anyone outside !!!!
Hey, there is NO WRONG from the developer and they are doing very good job with the compensation (VERY ATTRACTIVE) with the pressure from Penang State Government. By right and law, the villager will get nothing…nothing since the Federal court have announced that they must leave the land.
And the thing is, it is already a fact and what we must do now is to carry on our life happily and most importantly you must know who is your friend that is helping you !!!
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