2219: Contrary to reports that a deal has been struck with all the villagers, half the remaining households have not yet accepted the developer’s vaguely worded compensation offer.
This is the current position:
- Those who had left much earlier and signed – 9 households
- Those who have now accepted and signed – 12 households
- Those who have not signed – 12 households
The above information was provided to me by Sugumaran, the village committee chairman, when I contacted him a moment ago.
“The 12 (who have not signed) are with us now.”
I asked him what they were looking for.
“We want a concrete proposal and not the vaguely worded offer that was given to us earlier. We want an assurance that if, for whatever reason, Nusmetro is unable to continue the project, whoever takes over the project will continue to honour the offer. The state or any other party must be willing to provide such a guarantee.”
Sugumaran added that the villagers, whose backs are against the wall after yesterday’s display of force and arrests, will be holding a meeting among themselves tomorrow night. Few outsiders – especially those who have never stepped foot in the village – understand what it is like for them to lose their village.
The villagers, still emotionally recovering from the traumatic experience yesterday, want the loopholes in the compensation offer to be removed and a proposal that spells things out clearly.
Leaving politics aside, to me, it’s not unreasonable to ask for something concrete; there have been too many previous cases of villagers and pioneers who were offered and promised all sorts of things to entice them to leave – only to find themselves stranded later because they had nothing legally enforceable.
Kalau hendak berlakon jadilah pelakon sebenar.
Pampasan yang diberi sudah sampai ke tahap maksima.
Nak dapat apa lagi? Nak konkrit? Belilah di kedai.
Saya harap pihak pemaju jangan layan mereka ini.
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Being poor, nobody cares. Just accept the deal, What else can you residents do? MIC was talking loud and now is quiet. UMNO came into the picture. Nothing happened. Gerakan has disappeared for good. Anyway, Gerakan is irrelevant now. The party is closing shop for good. They want to put the blame on Lim Guan Eng. The people are not stupid. Lim has done his best. He was the man who managed to strike a deal with the developer. The damaged was done by the previous government of Koh. Lim has been responsible throughout. Forget about it now. Just accept the offer and start a new life. Let this be a lesson to all poor people of the country. Being poor is always a liability but advantageous to the rich and the greedy. Trust yourself and come up in life.
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Anil, of course it is reasonable to ask for something concrete. However, the way Sugumaran and folks rejected the proposal initially and their comments on state government (as published on video) did not buy them any support from Penangites. One has to understand his or her position very clearly (in this case, on a weaker side) before making any negotiation. And do not turn to the ‘dark side’ for HELP! Simply, it was a feeble-minded way of dealing and resolving issues…
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This is going to be a never ending story.
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http://malaysiakini.com/news/112166
“Thomas Chan, the company’s director, said 1,400 sq ft double-storey terrace houses will be built on part of the acquired land as compensation to the village toll holders.
He said the land owner, Koperasi Pegawai Pegawai Kanan Kerajaan Pulau Pinang, brokered the deal with villagers, and Nusmetro had agreed to it.”
So, it was the “Koperasi” which brokered the deal – is this the same deal made by the State Govt? Is this a sandiwara to ensure the State Govt does not get credit.
Did anything come of their “only BN can help Indians” meet with Muhiyuddin n UMNO gelugor – why never attack them too??
What happened to their demand to 40 houses (?60) for extended families. No longer an issue? If it was a more concrete deal they wanted, why not discuss misgivings with State govt at time when deal offered? Why reject outright?
How come u don’t smell a rat, Anil?
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Anil
You seem to just swing with the yo-yo behaviour of Sugumaran and Co?
He seems to be swinging from one tree to another like a primate and in the process holding ransom the innocent folks at this village.
He seems to be asking a lot now, even better than the … lawyer…
This is the guts that he should have applied from the beginning with the state government of pre 8 March 2008. You have records of how he bravely faced the onslaught then? Was MIC nd Hindraf then on his side to get him and the village folks a better deal?
There is a genesis for this case. It speaks volumes of how Sugumaran misled the people from durng BN’s rule.
When LGE tried to get these guys focused on firming up the compensation deal, thats when Hindraf and MIC threw the spanner in the works and made Sugumaran double-cross from whatever that was slowly being firmed up by the present state government.
In one instance, this guy was in K.L when the rest were in the village facing the might of the developer’s workforce. What on earth was this fellow in K.L for?
The lawyer appointed by the residents was also in Penang but this fellow…in K.L? Any idea? Getting coached further on how to embarass the state government and ‘spice’ up the issue further at the expense of the simple villae folks?
This group also had the cheek to speak to UMNO and the DPM asking help. And what help did they get? Anything worthy that can swing public opinion in favour of BN? Nothing….right?
So, this Sugumaran is actually making himslef a clown but worse still deliberately delaying an amicable solution.
The irony is that, after getting no where, despite UMNO and DPM engagement, he had the cheek to say that he is seeking another appointment with the present state government to ‘renegotiate’.
This guy does not know that the MACC is also watching his every move…switching camps frequently…and… singing the tune of the anti-Pakatan trouble makers and instigators?
Bottom line – Sugumaran does not want a united approach and meaningful engagement with the present stat government, as he has… himself to the instigators and trouble makers.
Most of those who sympathised with him, now are distancing themselves from him. They see his true colours – spineless and just rocking to the tunes of the anti-Pakatan forces.
He is what Samy Vellu is to MIC.
Beinga stumbling block to peaceful and acceptable mutual resolutions to the situation in Kg Buah Pala….
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What Wong Ka Wai says is a perfect example of why many believe the Chinese make the world’s worst lovers – their pragmatism and obsession with material “success” often blinds them to other values not so easily quantified. Values like cherishing whatever pockets of our own past remain uncrushed by the heartless juggernaut of mindless destruction that passes itself as construction. I have never set foot in Kg Buah Pala. Indeed I didn’t even know it existed until this controversy erupted. However, having caught glimpses of it in videos and still photos, I found myself fervently hoping against hope that the former state government officials who committed this atrocious land grab would be brought to book and made to refund in full whatever has been collected from prospective condo owners as deposits. Business is always a gamble. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. I would love to see the residents who truly love Kg Buah Pala win for a change. Down with ugly “development” that profits only the already well-to-do!
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It is a fair request by the villagers. Whatever agreed must be expressly documented and without ambiguity. Furthermore, the completion date is 2 years away, so many things can happen if the villagers agree without proper documentation ( villagers already have experienced it).
Actually, there was not even a completion date mentioned in the developer’s offer letter dated 4 August 2009. Nothing mentioned about two years. – Anil
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Sugumaran will try to stretch this out as long as possible. He is not interested in solution, only in keeping a political platform to bash LGE and PR. They are squatters under the law, plain and simple and they have been given a good deal.
Even those who use their own money to buy houses from developers have no ironclad guarantee that they will get their houses – only a trust and a hope. They take more risk than these KBP squatters who don’t have to pay a single cent. In this case their risk is little as the state govt is watching over the developer and the deal is highly publicized.
Don’t ask the state govt to guarantee. As these villagers have abused, bad mouthed and vilified the state govt, they should not be so shameless to ask for more favours. Go to Hindraf, MIC, MMSP or Umno to get your damn guarantee.
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Anil,
I agree with you that it’s not unreasonable for the villager’s to ask for for a more concrete offer. They were promised the entire village to themselves by various PR politicians who vowed never to let them down but the villager’s are now faced with a deafening silence from these same “champions of the people” today. They have been bitten once and are now twice shy. They are also being very realistic about it.
I have seen how vague and deceptive the offer is and no one in their right minds would accept such an offer as an honourable one, much less legally binding in any way. It appears to be more of a written… threat than anything else. Incredibly, an entire hoard of LGE supporter’s seem to think (conveniently) that the villager’s deserve no more than this. I don’t think these loyalists would think so highly of LGE and continue to be defensive of him if given the same ultimatum if they were cornered like the villager’s.
Congratulations to LGE and the Penang DAP Government for their complicity in abetting (all this)…
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Shud hv done that earlier, instead of asking LGE goes back to Melaka, critizing PR, making noises, going here and there seeking help from useless people. Want concrete proposal, talk to LGE, Dr Rama, Rayer nicely and believe they will help you from the bottom of their hearts. Don’t let emotion and outsiders to ‘goreng’ you all anymore.
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Anil,
Thanks for information on the completion date ( my oversight). Becomes more pertinent that details like the completion date is documented. Personally, that is just some of the many minimum details a rational person will require before committing.
Just because the villagers rights had been compromised by the alleged land scam (alleged no less than by LGE), they just to accept anything put before them.
BTW, I might be wrong but I believe the intial offer was d/s house with land area of 1200 sf instead of 1400 sf.
Good points. The land area offered was 1,200 sq ft (60′ by 20′ plot) while the built up area of the house is supposed to be 1,400 sq ft. – Anil
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uncle buck the toothless ,if you have nothing positive to say about kampung buah pala folks,then don’t say anything .since, you are not in the shoes of these suffering people and refuse to look at things according to them. wong kai wai and sarah, thanks the heavens ,i don’t have friends like you guys.there are real people involved here,helpless people especially ,after the majority of the people in penang have turn their backs on them.since ,you guys have no sympathy for them ,then why bother commenting on a problem that lge supporters have considered a non-issue to them,and yet ,they still come and show their hate everytime kampung buah pala issue is raised.
a lot of questions remain unanswer regarding this issue,like the land trust scam,exco minute,why the delay in solving this? and the 3.5 million claim (anil have uncover the truth behind it and guess what, it was lge or someone in his office who (distorted the picture) not the villagers.)
trusting a developer in malaysia is like gambling with your life.forget about the politicians.my heart and respect goes out to the kampung buah pala folks.
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Holding politicians to their promises is dicey. When politicians want their vote they will promise you. Accept their promise at your risk!
There are no angels in politics, whether PR or BN. But it seems that PR is being held to a far higher standard than BN. If BN politicians were the ones who promised to save KBP will they be held accountable? Will people will still be talking endlessly about election promises? Will the BN Chief Minister get involved?
Those who continue to slam LGE and PR are welcome to vote BN and expect better treatment for TOL holders although this may already be the best compensation offered in living memory. But challenging them to vote BN may be unnecessary as they are probably hard core BN supporters on a political agenda.
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Dear fellows,
The strategy plan by Najib is using “good cop” & “bad cop” routine but on the larger scale on the state of Selangor itself. You see how the Federal government is sending conflicting signals to the population at large what it intent to do with this 1Malaysia.
On one hand, you have the 1Malaysia call, asking for charging of the protestor by the PM, then you have the other hand defending the protestor by the Ministry of Interior. Then you have Police concluding the investigation and handing their report for AG to take action, but the AG then handed back to the Police to ask for more investigation. Its all pretty obvious who are the devil hands causing the cow head incident, we all know it is UMNO people doing it. Given if this is the Pakatan doing, I bet you in no time, the Police & AG will start charging & acting very fast to wallop the Pakatan people.
Najib has call for the recapture of Selangor, one (possible) strategy (could be) to antagonise and flare more organise racial incidents to irritate the people in Selangor. The COW HEAD incident is one such strategy. While the citizen of Selangor between Hindu & Muslim is antagonise… then BN can comes to grip again showing their formula works, that they need BN and BN can solve this issue because the MIC & UMNO can control their people, thus retain back their old power base and continue with their corruption and swindling of the rakyat money.
People of Selangor should be wise and calm, reflect properly the strategy use by BN to regain back Selangor. We can all live in peace and sent these racist bigots back to the stone age!
regards,
1Malaysia
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dino,
awak ini suka dengar berita baik biarpun palsu. Jika dalam sesebuah negara atau organisasi mempunyai orang macam awak, saya boleh pasti bahawa negara atau organisasi itu akan musnah atau dikalahkan oleh pihak lawannya.
Kawan sejati bukan hanya membodek, apabila tiba masanya nasihat berupa cucukan jarum harus diberikan supaya kawan anda yang sedang bermimpi itu sedar hakikat sebenar.
Penduduk Kg Buah Pala sudah kalah dalam tindakan perundangan, juga kalah dalam aspek publisiti, tetapi diberi peluang bagi mendapat pampasan yang nilainya tinggi. Kebanyakkan penduduk sudah menerima hakikat ini dan justeru itu juga menerima pampasan yang diperjuangkan oleh Kerajaan Negeri Pulau Pinang.
Yang tinggal hanya penduduk yang masih bermimpi dan oleh itu berlagak bagai mempunyai ruang untuk berunding dengan pemaju.
Sebagai orang yang ketiga, saya ini prihatin kepada nasib mereka ini. Komen saya hanya bertujuan menyedarkan mereka yang sedang bermimpi ini supaya bangun dan lihat kepada keadaan sebenar.
Mungkin saya ini terlalu praktikal, tetapi sifat ini dimiliki… secara am supaya boleh terus hidup di dunia yang penuh dengan persaingan dan ancaman.
Kepada Dino, saya juga tidak akan berkawan dengan orang seperti kamu yang hanya mahu mendengar berita baik dan bukan berita yang sebenar.
Sekian.
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BN regain back selongor? In dream!.. unless super duper dirty tactics used. Or.. If it’s not najib, then it might will be. However muhyidin still doubts.
KBP issue..
Being poor is no wrong.. but why did you all choose to be poor.
However.. being greedy is sooooo wrong.
you want bungalow ahh?
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If that is the case, it is just too bad. Common for the residents to flip and flop. Now they are doing this to the developer. What else? Trying to get Najib to crawl and beg and obtain brownie points?BN is finished here after MIC’s thuggery behavior…
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So when will MIC’s RM3.2 million already stashed in the bank be dished out to the villagers? Or will this segment of a Tamil movie starring the one and only Samy Vellu be pulled?
Is the deal a rehash of what was agreed upon earlier before it was rejected by the villagers and LGE washed his hands off this? If so, why the rejection in the first place and what made it a success the second time around?
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We have had enough of KBP greedy lots’s nonsense; just send in the bulldozers and done it over with.
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STAR ONLINE:Kg Buah Pala: 13 households want RM300,000 each compensation.
Well I hope they get it, and get on with their lives.
PLEASE BUY THE LAND. Don’t lease or rent.
I know making payments and servicing the loan is a pain, but it pays off in the long run.
In the interest of your children, BUY THE LAND.
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Anil, seems like the villagers flip-flopped again. earlier, was asking to refine the double storey house offer, now is asking for 300k compensation. Do you know what is the actual stand? what they actually want?
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Sekarang Antares dan Dino boleh senyap.
13 penghuni Kg Buah Pala memang pencetus masalah. Sudah minta RM300000 pampasan bagi setiap rumah yang diroboh.
Mereka ini sengaja hendak buat kecoh dan bertujuan bagi memburukkan nama parti DAP serta Kerajaan Pulau Pinang.
Jika dilihat dari segi perundangan, pemaju tidak perlu membayar pampasan kerana tanah itu dibeli secara sah.
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Well said Wong Ka Wai!!
Dino, do you know that when the majority of the chinese have their houses torn down to make way for development what and how much do they get?? Go ask around and you will be wiser!! Mostly only RM20K and one small two room apartment built by the developer.
And what the residents of KBP want?? Go and figure out if you are smart!!
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Poor!Suffering! Do you know if you save RM250,000 in the bank, the bank consider you a high net worth individual! These folks are going to get a double storey house worth RM500K thru the efforts of LGE/PAKATAN and they are laughing NOT JUST all the way to the bank BUT at us the general public at large for being hoodwink by THEM!
Remember. they were just SQUATTERS legally true and through!
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