It’s like a bad dream… but it’s more than that. At least with a nightmare, we can soon forget about it. But no matter how hard we try, Kg Buah Pala won’t go away. When an injustice has been perpetrated, it will fester like an open sore, causing the entire body pain and anguish. In our anguish, the questions linger:
Why is it taking so long for the MACC to carry out its investigations after several reports have been lodged?
What is the outcome of the probe into the land deal by the Penang state government’s investigative committee?
Why are Koh Tsu Koon, his former deputies and those in charge of land deals back then not shedding more light into this fiasco? Why was prime land sold for peanuts?
Why is Mohd Faridz Karim, the main shareholder of Asia Link-up Sdn Bhd (the parent company of Nusmetro Ventures (P) Sdn Bhd) keeping very quiet?
How was MPPP permission given before the land title was registered in the name of the Koperasi?
Why is the Koperasi proceeding with its condo development plan with Nusmetro when there is a restriction on the temporary land title forbidding any transactions?
P Gunasegaram, managing editor of Star Biz, raises five other important questions here.
Kg Buah Pala is not just another village. It is also a symbol of what the rest of us have largely lost in the concrete jungles of our age. Here’s a reflection I wrote for Aliran:
Yesterday’s (13 Aug) unsuccessful demolition of Kg Buah Pala revealed how strongly the villagers feel for their homes and the affinity they have for the land.
Women, men and children marched up to confront grunting bulldozers and a menacing demolition team backed by red-helmeted riot police. The developer and his team were clearly taken aback by the resilience and determination the villagers displayed in defending their homes. Full article here.
“Leaving aside the question of,who is responsible for ‘the Grand Robbery of KBP land’,we have to decide whether our ‘angel without wings’LGE,is really interested in solving their PROBLEM!” – Prem
Prem, I think LGE has done more than enough. In what other state can residents about to be legally evicted get to talk directly to the Chief Minister and his exco who negotiate on their behalf? LGE is a politician, not an ‘angel without wings’ which you have given the unsolicited title. When he fails to live up to your arbitrary title then hammer him?
Many commentators who criticize LGE place a far higher standard on him than BN politicians. Yes, we expect PR to be better than BN but not to the extent of being angels. Don’t you think LGE has done far more than any BN CM will? If KBP had been BN ruled Selangor and Khir Toyo is the CM, will the villagers even get to see his secretary much less get his personal involvement?
When you add in the all the abuse, bad mouthing and blame that LGE and his men got from the villagers I will have to say, enough is enough!
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ghkok is correct. the government tried their best (i need to angkat them). but this darsham singh… came along to confuse them. this idiot has already created a huge problem for penang sports club (just ask any member)….
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Dear Anil,
Your are “spinning” and not telling the truth!
First and foremost, the KBP folks DO NOT OWN the land! Facts are facts!
Koh Tsu Koon had explained how the KBP land was exchanged with the Coop. You have never mention this!
If there was any FRAUD in the dealings, the present PR (Pembangkang Rakyat) government would have revealed every thing for all see.
The PR government have the likes of Karpal Singh, Gobind Deo, Jagdeep Deo, Lim Kit Siang, etc. to look into this case.
Would these “champions” let it go if there were any “hanky-panky” involved? Have they utter a single word so far?
To ALL you people writing on this blog, Think-Think-Think-lah!!!
I have mentioned the land swap deal with the Koperasi in an earlier posting. We are still waiting for the outcome of the probe by the state government’s investigative committee. Is it only going to be revealed after the houses are torn down? – Anil
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I had initially sympathised with the Kampung Pala folks. The developer has now decided to come to a compromise by offering a double storey terrace house as compensation, an offer that is much better than that accepted by other Kampung Pala folks who have since moved out.
But Anil, you are now saying that since thse folks are so used to their existing lifestyle, nothing will be acceptable, except to allow them to continue to stay on regardless of any court decision on this matter. Are you therefore, suggesting that from now, all TOL holders like the Kampung Pala folks, should be permitted to stay permanently on their TOL land as long as they are used to the lifestle there, regardless of what the law may say? Does this mean that TOL is now equivalent to permanent ownership of the land?
No doubt the DAP have made a promise before the GE to help the Kampung Pala folks but this should not be regarded as an open ended promise to give them whatever they demand, regardless of the law or the cost, especially to other Penangites.
As a Penangite, I would still say that it is best to compromise and put an end to this matter. I do not think the developer will back down as long as the court rules in its favour. The continued pursuance of this matter will do nobody any good.
Perhaps, the only hope for the Kampung Pala folks would be to persuade the Federal Govwernment, that in view of the righteousness of their cause, it should intervene to exert pressure on the Penang Sate Government to solve this problem with “the stroke of a pen”.
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mahen
August 15th, 2009 at 1.55pm
Additional Questions -
1.Should a CM be vested with powers to takeover land (for any reason)which ownership has been decided by courts?
==
Why LGE waits until “nasi jadi bubur”?
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Ken
August 15th, 2009 at 5.40pm
There’s injustice at Kg. Buah Pala, I agree. But don’t treat those who are not responsible for your plight and are trying to help you like a punching bag. That was how the villagers lost public support.
If you analyze the comments on Anil’s blog at least 80% are critical of the villagers. This is a measure of how much public opinion has turned against them although it should have been the other way around in cases of injustice.
I’m not blaming the villagers entirely but they have to share the blame for allowing themselves to be led by the nose by political opportunists.
===
Once people understand the real issue, they will blame politicians like KTK and LGE.
LGE get 80% support? I hope he can will 80% voters in the next election. My advice to him, let be prepared to be one-term CM.
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Loh Yeow Boo, you are so far from a clear understanding of values when you state: We need developers to develop Penang.
Like Dr M, you think of “development” in only physical terms, on the most superficial and cosmetic level.
Penang, in my view, is already OVERDEVELOPED in terms of urban high-rise built-up areas. Over the last few decades almost all “development” benefited only the capitalist elite and not the community at large. This is why floods have worsened along with traffic congestion and the deterioration of the island’s ecosystemic equilibrium.
What Penang needs – indeed, the whole of Malaysia, not just Penang – is more artistic and cultural development, activities that will stimulate mental and spiritual growth and maturity – not more expensive, space-devouring infrastructure (like the grotesquely grandiose proposed PGCC project) that only serves the widen the gap between rich and poor.
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Don’t take offense Anil, an idiot is an idiot anyway you cut it.
Perhaps at its conclusion, this KBP saga can be solved through ‘granting’ the villagers a piece of the development – in as much as they have no entitlement to any claim, let alone the land.
I’m certain – through attachment – many would choose to remain should the land be built on. But let’s not forget to throw them in jail, those most responsible for this mess. The next *GE is not far off and there may be wholesale changes in the offing.
P/S* This is not a threat to Ah Koon or his UMNO bosses but a promise.
Likewise, the AG(and the many unsafe verdicts thru’ the years), present and past IGP’s, TBH’s Coroner right down to the regular thief in UMNO should all pay heed to the wind of change that will soon visit us.
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The residents had their chance to actually mitigate for a solution on their own. What is sad is the emergence of the lawyer who continue to give “false hopes”. I really hope that the residents will now know that the presence of their lawyer continues to add salt to the wound. I totally agree with GHKOK and hope that this chapter will be closed soon. Politically, the present and past government are to be blamed for their inaction in some parts or another. But, the sentiments on the ground is saying that the entire deal started from a wrong footing and the federal court’s decision further diminishes the ownership of the residents. Sadly, as what Anil has put it, lots of questions and no answers. I pray sanity prevails. We have heard too much but the residents will need to accept the federal court judgement accordingly
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Greedy Sugumaran …
yes,KBP folks know public regards them as bodo,greedy,etc etc.Heritage kunun..
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Prem
If DAP lawyers did not action what about Hindraf and other NGOs lawyers? So what difference between these two groups?
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Finally, Koh Tsu Koon said something on Kampung Buah Pala,
http://mt.m2day.org/2008/content/view/25726/84/
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Anil,
Read the Star today pg 33. The probe into KPB land scam dropped according to an Assemblyman(Rayer).
strange happening and unbelievable, all this time LGE been saying of a land scam, blaming all and sundry of the previous BN government, having his assistant’ to lodge a report with MACC, and even committing to cancel the DO and file action in courts. It all comes to this ………… one big ‘nothing’.
The question in my mind now is whether all this time , we have been mislead by LGE and his merryman. Whilst they been spinning and making the villagers look like villains in cohort with the developers.
I had felt the crux of the matter is to arrive to a determination whether the KBP was a land scam and whether LGE was going to do something about it and be transparent.
Instead, LGE successfully worked up Penangites sentiments against the villagers by playing up the compensation ‘demanded’ by the villagers ( some that were half truths like the one of RM3m plus compensation demand).
All I can say for now is I am a Pakatan supporter but have some regrets. Unless this is a spin/ misreport by the Star.
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KBP land scam occurs and it occurs (under the watch of people) like Koh Tsu Koon who legalised the sale.
Unless we, the rakyat, hold these (people) accountable, politicians from both BN and PR will think they can indulge in these scams and get away with it.
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Even if it is a land scam, LGE has no power to override the court and reverse the land transfer, nor does it mean the Federal court revise its ruling.
In another case, the Federal court has ruled that if somebody steals a piece of land and sells it to a third party by fraud, the buyers gets to keep the land if he has bought in good faith. This controversial ruling has got many landowners riled up but the ruling still stands and will apply to all future cases.
nkkhoo, I believe it’s your misunderstanding of the issue that makes you keep on blaming LGE. The whole deal was approved, signed and sealed during KTK’s time. The final payment was accepted and the land transfer done by civil servants 19 days after the PR govt took over. No approval was needed from LGE or his exco and it’s doubtful they even knew about it at a time when everything was in confusion. It is not true that LGE quickly accepted the payment and expedited the land transfer as the whole deal was completed by civil servants.
Even if LGE knew about the deal, it’s doubtful he can stop it. After you’ve signed a S&P for your house and paid the deposit, can the developer refuse to accept your final payment and tear up the S&P just because the house has appreciated greatly in price? I’m sure you’ll sue his pants off.
Maybe you have better info then me which you can reveal here. We’ll be glad to hear it.
Between voting back PR or Gerakan I think most realists will agree Gerakan has little chance of winning back Penang. LGE appears to have suffered little political damage because public opinion has turned against the villagers.
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a bunch of Greedy vagrants that tries to bargain a hard deal with public sympathy. Just follow the law and get on with it.
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nkkhoo,
LGE will not loose his seat if you and your family vote BN!
Are you from penang? If you are, I suppose you are quote ignorant of sentiments of Penangites towards Kpg Buah Pala issue.
Yes, at first most of Penangites were very sympathetic to the villagers. THey want LGE to get the land back by just signing. Now upon learningit was not that simple, their stand soften.
They then want LGE and Rama to drive a hard bargain for the villagers.
Yes, a very good batgain that they get – a double storey terrace house in Penang! The house can easily be sold off at RM500, 000 when completed.
Where can you get compensation that big in Malaysian History for squatters?
But they demanded even more – a 3000 sq ft house? Fancy that! Isn’t this GREED?
Never mind, it is quite understandable. Most of us would behave the same way when putin the same situation.
But they seemed to be demonising LGE and PR just like you .
Just like you, Koh Tsu Koon is almost blameless!
Yes, you can vote for Koh in the next general election. MY BET is that he will betrounced. HE HAS LOST HIS CREDIBILITY in Penang!!!
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ABC,
Just read the Koh Tsu Koon / KBP article on the Malaysia Today link that you highlighted above.
This political eunuch really has no honour.
The greatest service Gerakan can provide to the people of Penang is to fade into oblivion.
Gerakan members should ask themselves how they can have such an irresponsible political eunuch as a leader.
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If Khir Toyo is the CM for Penang, the villagers would have been evicted long time ago; remember Kg Berembang ?
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KB,for your kind information,I am neither abusing nor bad-mouthing LGE.I have been a blind supporter and contributer towards DAP since last 20 years,hence I have every right to point out the faults of ‘my idol with clay feet’when necessary!!!!THAT IS MY RIGHT AS A VOTER!I still insist that LGE is ‘angel without wings’ and is not sincere in his handling the KBP problem!
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The final payment was accepted and the land transfer done by civil servants 19 days after the PR govt took over. No approval was needed from LGE or his exco and it’s doubtful they even knew about it at a time when everything was in confusion. It is not true that LGE quickly accepted the payment and expedited the land transfer as the whole deal was completed by civil servants.
===
Fair enough if this is the case.
LGE has to clarify this “powerless” incidence to public members.
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Anil
Not sure about you but this issue is certainly a turning point for me as far as the credibility of Civil Society and Pakatan is concerned.
Now I realise that the Penangites who had been so “bold” and “vocal” about civil society,heritage and democractic
issues have finally bared their true colours. Sadly most of these people proved to be just blind and prinicple-less Pakatan/DAP supporters. Just witness the disgraceful behaviour of Chan Lilian and other citizen reporters in this issue.PHT, which prided as the vanguard of Penang’s heritage, has now turned to be a mere poodle to LGE’s CAT government. The DAP supporters sudden change of mind about supporting “development” and the need to adhere to “rule of law”, “court rulings” ,”law and order”,etc is indeed tragic-comical.
DAP’s Malaysian Malaysia concept has been revealed to be just hot air without substance.
The govt of LGE has proven to be no better than Khir Toyo’s (and this is in 16 mths). The lies, spins and poor management of KBP is the last straw for me.
Worse of all, LGE has now resorted to the colonial “divide and rule”…
And today RSN Rayer has been quoted saying that they are not pursuing the “fraud” angle..proving what we all had been suspected all along,ie, LGE has no evidence nor political will to antogonise the Big Business and the rich buyers of the condos.
However, mark my words…KBP will never die. LGE and his incompetant exco will be buried in the next GE.
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“LGE appears to have suffered little political damage because public opinion has turned against the villagers.” Ken
I wonder if that is in fact true in everyone’s reality as it seems to be alluded to here.
It is often said that a day is a long time in politics.
And like everyone else, I suppose even politicians, whether from BN or PR, only get the one real chance to make a good first impression.
Moreover, IMO, mud tends to stick harder and for longer the more principled you appear or hold yourself out to be.
“Imagine Power To The People” John Lennon.
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Why dont you all go down to putarjaya and protest?
Cant you all see how najib washes his hand and hands the problem back to Lim GE?
This is one of the many dirty tricks to bring down PR.
You think Lim GE will sits in his office and not do anything to help?
This man went to prison when it was rahim thamby chik who did the raping.
It was the feds who “grabbed” the land.
It was the feds who transferred it.
True, Lim GE did promised . But can LIM GE goes against court’s decision?
… Lim cannot goes against it.
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K and the likes,
If LGE would be burried next GE? Har har har.. Who would helm Penang then? Gerakan? Or maybe you? You people are too thick to understand we are living in a real really real world and not in some fantasy fairy tale where everything will work out just perfect, most of the time it’s about COMPROMISE!!!. LGE might not be the best CM in the history of mankind but in my terms and probably for the majority of the Penangites he’s doing a way better job compare to the other ex-CM.
I personally saw your spat between you and Lilian Chan in other postings, and here again you are blaming some reporters. You posed a counter argue question to Lilian to expose her in some other posting regarding the 3mil houses thingy and after Lilian answered it not with her writings but a video of a press conference of LGE you remained quiet then you moved on by telling the world you are still not satisfy because the press conference looks like a setup. Hahaha, please do me a favour continue with your postings cuz idiots like you cheer me up
I think the Penang goverment has done a good job regarding this issue. From what I can gather here, the last ruling was in favour to the Developer and if she wants to flat the land they have all the right to do it PERIOD until a later ruling overides the previous one. The Developer just like any other corporate company their sole interest is in making big bucks for themselves, if it’s not due to the public pressure and especially the penang government’s intervention KBP is no longer standing.
I’ve come out working in the the society long enough to understand compromise is the best option for most problems. This is what the penang government is trying to archive, a compromise between the Developer and residents of KBP. Lets face it in a straight up fight the residents has no chance at all period in the law point of view. A deal was proposed unfortunately alot rejected it. Some of the residents say it’s a “sarang burung” but most prominently are some of the conditions imposed together with the deal. I say go for the deal since it’s the penang government’s recomendation, everyone thinks LGE’s can relax after the deal is agreed? WRONG! If I am LGE, now I would have tremendous pressure to make sure the deal is being executed properly if not it would be a PR disaster and the world is watching!
Lastly for the residents of KBP, the 1st rule of engagement always have a back door to escape if everything else fails. Dont let others exploit you guys. If the coming/final? Federal court ruling is not in your favour you would lose everything and that’s the end of it, there’s no longer any other avenue for you to appeal the judgement. Sincerely hope that wouldn’t be the case. I say throw the ball back to the penang’s government, if they dont do a good job which I doubt since I can see LGE doesn’t plan to be a 1 term CM, we will know who to vote next GE.
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