When most outsiders hear of Kampung Buah Pala, they tend to think of it as just another crammed “squatter” settlement, with ramshackle houses, surrounded by rubbish and stray animals.
Let me show you the other side of Kg Buah Pala – a side not often seen by outsiders. The village is actually quite scenic, the houses nestled amidst natural greenery. The wooden houses blend in with nature, standing next to rambutan, neem and coconut trees. It is easy to see why the Koperasi and Nusmetro covet this land. But they will only flatten it with orange soil for their construction work.
“People tend to look down on wooden houses,” said one of the villagers, showing me around. “They think that brick and concrete houses are superior, but then they find it so hot inside such houses and apartments even with fans and air-cons. Do you know, when I was growing up here in the village, we had to sleep under double blankets. It was that cool.”
He told me that his father moved in here in the 1950s and bought the family home for $3,000 back then. “That was a lot of money back then.”
Talking to the villagers, I could sense their pride in the village, their passion and nostalgia obvious.
Another villager told me he was seriously thinking of leaving the corporate world and coming back to nature to rear cows and goats. “I am tired of all the unethical practices I see in the corporate world, having to market products and persuade people to buy what they don’t really need and then having to chase for collection. I would rather sell something (like milk and dairy products) that people actually need and they will then come to me for it.”
When asked if that meant he was thinking of going into hightech, large-scale cattle rearing with modern equipment, he repled, “No, I would rather do it the natural (organic) way.”
I thought I would take photos of all the houses yesterday before the demolition team can bulldoze its way in and swing their wrecker’s ball to flatten the village forever.
But they will have to contend with the villagers’ pride in their heritage and homeland.
JoeJambo
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The land is owned by the trustee under the Fed Government. Read the Aliran article on that matter if you are not, and rebut with your halk-cooked arguments.
How did you know I never read the full judgement on Batu Puteh? This is showing your arrogant attitude and implying your point is God given argument.
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I like the trees, but I think it is a stretch to call the place “scenic”. It looks like any other village in the country, and not particularly noteworthy or of any tourism value. There is no unique cultural architecture, for example.
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Why do u rely on the aliran article? Do u cite the aliran article in court? Simple.. U can continue arguing what aliran says but no.. u will gain nothing out of it. It’s time u look from the legal point of view or u can harp all u want. Show the legal documents evidencing any transfer to the villagers.
Under trust, u merely need some documents to show Margarate’s certainty of intention, indicating the portion of the land to be held under trust and who exactly is the beneficiary. To win your case, the trust must exist. Trust has nothing to do with you staying the the land for 200 years and automatically Margarate is deemed to agree to having an interest in the land. It’s wise that you stop harping about aliran and start finding the documents (if any).
If u have read the full judgment on batu puteh, u would not have cited the less than substantial reason why the court awarded batu puteh to signapore. U clearly ommited to mention the letter sent out by the State of Johor disclaiming Johor’s ownership of batu puteh. I wont cite god in my arguments. Purely legal. No aliran..
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the area is centre of;
aedes
the cattle dirty the surrounding area,ask the neighbour.ask the health department,ask the police.ask the municipal enforcement or come and see for yourselves,kotok
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Lim Guan Eng said, “I think they (Kg Buah Pala villagers) should be reasonable and I fear they will be losing public support…in fact, they have lost a lot of public support.” (Star Online,7 August 2009)
This statement made by Lim Guan Eng explained why he dared to ignore promises made to the villagers by his party leaders and Anwar Ibrahim.
It is clear to Lim Guan Eng that the Kg Buah Pala villagers had lost a lot of support among the (public). But, why have the villagers lost a lot of public support?
In the (Chinese) vernacular newspaper, Lim Guan Eng (has portrayed) the Villagers of Kg Buah Pala as excessively demanding or greedy. Similar strategy was employed in Chinese internet sites such as CARI…
Some English & Malay newspaper had yet to fully grasp the seriousness of those broken promises.
The strategy was to give an offer that seem fantastic to an outsider such as offering them “double-story houses”.
In reality, the offer given to the villagers was half-baked with loopholes, not complete and without guarantee.
For example:-
1. If the developer is unable to get planning and building approval from the relevant authorities, the offer is immediately null and void, the villagers will end with NOTHING.
2. No start and completion dates for the houses.
3. No clear information on where the house will be built.
4. The “double-story house” drawing is preliminary subject to many future changes, etc.
Lawyers and outspoken villagers were banned from the meeting between Lim Guan Eng. This is to ensure that the villagers will not get the best advice during the meeting.
Each times, the villagers after returning from the meeting with the CM found that the offer not acceptable when they consult with the lawyers and those banned from the meeting.
When they reject the fantastic offer, outsiders thought they were greedy!!!
Actually, the previous BN government had decided that any offer must consist of 3 guaranteed components:-
1. The relief amount for moving to a new house.
2. The amount of monthly rental for each family
3. The house (amount) to be compensated.
These 3 components were never fulfilled in all of Lim Guan Eng offers.
Under the previous BN government it was decided that the welfare and needs of the villages must be fulfilled before Malaysia Land Title can be granted to the Co-operative. This was totally ignored, the land titled was intentionally fast-tracked and issued on 27 March 2008, 19 days after Lim Guan Eng assumed office.
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Why blame LGE?
It is because the PR (Pembangkang Rakyat) made a lot of promises to the KBP folks (and also to the Penangites) during GE12 and cannot keep them now. Period!!!
Promises were made without knowing the full details of the KBP land issue.
How did the Coop get the KBP land?
It is part in exchange for the piece of land in Georgetown owned by the Coop with the previous BN Government (to build the Court House?).
Is there fraud involve?
Nope. Because the PR Government would be the 1st to provide evidences to the KBP lawyers in the appeal to the Federal Court.
Please do not get Emotional and Racial in our duscussions! Try to be constructive.
I am go to propose this again.
The folks of KBP want to continue with their present High Chapparal way of life and livelihoods. Relocate them! Obviously, not on the Island. There would be land in Seberang Prai suitable for High Chapparal.
If the PR Government is sincere in resolving this issue, they should have put this option to the KBP fole long ago. The PR government have the power to allocate Agriculture Land with TITLES to the KBP folks.
The developers have agreed to compensate!
This would be a win-win-win for ALL.
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