anilnetto.com
Let justice flow like a mighty river
MOST READ THIS WEEK
- ‘Dr Rosmah’ and Curtin University (1,183)
- Status of RM1.1 bn from sale of Bayan Mutiara (1,098)
- Video: Khairy vs Rafizi debate (957)
- ‘Dormant’ firm holds stake in RM7bn expressway (905)
- Darling penthouse aimed at casino ‘high rollers’ (804)
- Bayan Mutiara: Guan Eng clarifies (796)
- Affordable housing: S’pore consultants appointed (756)
- Under the Democracy Tree: Remembering Perak power grab (626)
- Is Penang Island being overdeveloped? (621)
- Old Penang: Penang Road (535)
ALIRAN
Latest from Aliran:
- The relevance of Tagore today
- How myths can be necessary and also dangerous
- Say ‘No’ to Ibrahim Ali-style politics, Chua
- Change of government is only way to stop Lynas
- Another rural school mishap – but who gives a damn?
- Aliran Monthly 32: 1 editor’s note
- A year-end look at Malaysia from afar
- Housing loans for poor: Don’t touch EPF
- 1Care: What ails Malaysia’s health care system?
- Mischief rearing its pig head at mosques
WORLD
- Snow, White And The Two Daves - The Guardian Responds (Media Lens)
- Silence Of The Lambs (Media Lens)
- Selective Outrage – Iran And Libya (Media Lens)
- ‘A Death Sentence For Africa’ (Media Lens)
- Climate Crisis – The Collapse In Corporate Media Coverage (Media Lens)
- ‘They Found Nothing. Nothing.’ (Media Lens)
- Media Lens Cogitation: Free to be Human - An Interview with David Edwards (Media Lens)
- Media Lens Cogitation: Falling (Media Lens)
FOLLOW THIS BLOG
Welcome to my blog, where I do my best to provide you with independent journalism and analyses that further the cause of justice, democracy, human rights and environmental protection. More on what I believe.
If you value what you find here, please take a moment to contribute what you can - or buy me a cuppa!
Tan Huck Jo’s case came up with Rm40 million. Guess what – that piece of land is a quarry land. Rm30 Million is whose figure? Alo stop tukang karut here. The figure could run into hundred of millions. Again, thanks to AH koon and their goonies.
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
I’m very sympathetic towards the villagers but HINDRAf keeps undermining whatever the PR state government is trying to do to resolve the matter!!
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
“zozdaniel on June 30th, 2009 at 11.39pm
Hindraf is right to advertise that LGE is a weak leader. Infact, the DAP leadership in penang is weak. They dare not face head on with real issues. If Pakatan want to stay effective, Keadilan should take the lead in Penang. Their kind of leaders are real BRAVO.”
Hey man, I know you’re MIC people so stop trying to put a wedge between the PR parties.
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Come on Hindraf,
You are actually to ‘melampau’
When people gave you an inch, you demand a yard.
There is a limit to your demand.
Only PR can accomodate your demand but there is a limit. Do you want the Penangites to pay millions just to ensure that the villagers stay? I am from Penang. And I say forget about it.
Those millions can be used to make extra roads.
Hindraf, you loose my sympathy and support now.
YOU ARE SIMPLY UNREASONABLE
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
15 months the lawyers were working with the Penang Pakatan Government without protest , yet , no result. LGE lied about the 200k compensation offered to the villagers…
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
This is what the Cheap Minister of Penang says ::
Penang Chief Minister Guan Eng makes several points:
* The crisis was created under the previous BN administration;
* The Buah Pala villagers should distinguish between their friends and those responsible for their predicament;
This is what the villagers say :
Villagers: “We want our land which is our life”
The Kampung Buah Pala residents have released a statement today, expressing dissatisfaction with Pakatan politicians who had promised to defend their right to the land during the general election campaign last year.
The villagers, who had earlier filed a complaint with the MACC over the land deal, are also claiming that not all families and households were offered compensation.
Dissatisfaction with Pakatan politicians who had promised to defend their right to the land during the general election campaign last year.
Wa Tak tau Tanya Anwar Ibrahim ..Hahaha if you ask LGE ..
Anwar Ibrahim who had promised the Tamil villagers he would get the land for them?
In the videoclip, an elderly man claimed that Anwar had sworn on his head (by placing his hands on his head) that he will never abandoned the villagers and preserve the village for them.
Here’s the link :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwUvQF5HSq4&feature=related
See it for yourself , all the empty promises by Anwar and Pakatan
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
This is really the joke of the century by people who have eyes that do not see and have ears that do not hear by simply blaming everything on BN .
Luckily the villagers are smarter than many people here , at least they know who is the culprit .
Hahahaha please , please do me a favour go and ask the villagers and don’t think just because they are cattle ranchers they are stupid and gullible …
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
The residents and the previous govt had been negotiating on this issue for years. See the below extract from the NST as related by the ex-DCM Hilmi Yahya. I am aware of this issue and been following on this for last several years.
=============================================
On the Kampung Lorong Buah Pala issue, Dr Hilmi said the previous administration had discussed with the land owner and developer to help the 31 affected families then.
Meanwhile, the NST learnt that 11 of the 31 families had since taken up the offer made by the previous administration. Those who opted for cash were given between RM180,000 and RM200,000 for each family and have since moved out. Those who opted for houses, were given a RM10,000 start-up and a three-year rental prior to the completion of their new houses.
=============================================
As such, claims that the previous BN govt created the issue is totally WRONG. What had actually happened was that Pakatan and NGOs linked to them wanted to undermine the BN govt and had actually intigated the residents not to move out and make impossible demands.
And during the last GE, Anwar and other Pakatan leaders themselves promised to solve the issue if they get to rule.
However, little did they realise that they will have to make good of this promise.
So, in summary this is an issue created by Pakatan for themselves. They had originally created this… and it is indeed poetic justice that this … has now … landed right on their lap.
I can only laugh at Pakatan’s stupidy on this matter.
As you can see, the offer for compensation is pretty good and reasonable.
In almost 100% of issue with squatter, the problem is being created by Pakatan and their NGO buddies out to create issues for BN by turning it to a political crisis.
When Pakatan instigated the villagers, they told them that they can make millions like the infamous Felda LBJ if they hold out. As such the residents foolishly rejected the offers.
Little they realised that the developer will take them to court. RSN Rayer is hated since he is the one who (allegedly) gave the wrong legal advice on the strength of their legal case.
So the residents believed these political clowns and now ended up with nothing.
This is the real reason for the residents’ anger and fury.
In Penang, the credibility of Indian Pakatan leaders has sunk to zero over this and several other issues. These leaders now hiding from Indians and in fact the LGE is also avoiding them.
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Anil,
See I have already told you about how majority Penangites felt. Like it or not, when it touches the financial reserves of Penang State Government, many people would surely up at arms. It would be politically suicidal for LGE to buy back the land given to the development by Koh Tsu Koon’s government.
Like the Famous Yes, Minister series, BN is playing “Pass the Parcels”. Now LGE is at the receving end on the Pass the Parcels game. And it’s ticking. Notice how Koh & Gerakan has been very silence over this especially they are the one who created the mess
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
This demonstration by Hindraf is totally disgraceful.
Hindraf doesn’t even have the courage to seek an accountability from Koh Tsu Koon who is responsible for this fiasco.
KTK and Gerakan members – not a single word uttered. They act as if nothing is happening.
Shame ! Shame ! Shame !
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
The people have been fighting since 2005? why only started to fight in 2005 since they have been staying for 200 years? or they realised that it is their heritage land only after 2005?
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Actually where is Kg Buah Pala in Penang? If used Google Earth (http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=5.376494,100.30524&z=16&t=h&hl=en)and found Lorong Buah Pala near the Kg Kastam (Customs Village) off Jalan Yeap Chor Ee. But there is no Kg Buah Pala. Thanks.
It’s in Bukit Gelugor, behind the Shell Station, just after the southern end of Green Lane. – Anil
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
I meant “I used” not “If used”
Sorry for the typo.
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Its funny how this thing whole argument is going. These supposedly Hindraf protestors say LGE can just sign a paper to stop something but LGE is saying the option to buy land is too expensive. LGE says nothing or little about amount offered by developer and the protestors are saying LGE is lying about the amount. Somehow its like they are having two different coversation and really its about talking to the media only. Who is the one NOT wanting to talk to the other and why?
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Forget idea of using Penang State fund to buy back land for residents in Kampung Buah Pala.
Can Hindraf launch a campaign to raise fund for state government to acquire land back? This is more meaningful for combative Hindraf in helping their indians.
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Hello Perfume Spray
Yes, cattle ranchers are not stupid, but you are stupid.
The land is sold during the watch of BN/UMNO with CHEAP price, of course BN/UMNO will do all it can at that time to convince the tenants to move out with some little “rewards”, so that BN/UMNO cronies can reap huge profit from the land. Nobody knows where you get the NST report from about Dr. Hilmi trying to “help”, do you keep all old copies of NST????
Even if the NST report is true, Dr Hilmi who is part of the administration responsible of selling the land CHEAP is “helping” the tenants???? “HELPING”???? and where is Dr. Hilmi and Dr. Koh Tsu Koon now regarding this issue??
Cattle ranchers are not stupid, YOU ARE STUPID.
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Heritage or not, if it’s time to go, you go!!
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Why the kg pala residence didn’t ask MIC to come out the fund to help.
Hindraf should seek MIC help.. Imagine when the father promise the son university education than later he found out that he can’t get enough fund, will the son blame the dad for this ill promised? as a son, try to learn the problem in the family and seek cheaper education else where. In hindraf case, they want it badly but the road to Rome is close today. Accept the RM 200K or move out since Hindraf or MIC were not there to help you from the beginning. This is not hindraf or MIC… blame it on yourself for sleeping in the couch potato watching Sun Channel for the past few years back.
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Indonesia says I am stupid !
hahaha get your facts right , that’s why I need to spray perfume when talking to you , cause your mouth sure stinks ! How many days have you not washed and brush your teeth ? Better use listerine .
“It was (former chief minister) Koh (Tsu Koon) and BN that sold out Kampung Buah Pala at the cheap price of only RM10 per square feet in 2007 and without consulting the residents.”
Land sold for RM10 per square feet ? Cheap price ?
How do you come to equate that is cheap when these conditions have to be met .
1 ) The land is deem agriculture and hill land . please see the land zoning in the Penang Municipal Master Plan on developments .
As such , the developer will have to pay a substantial sum for rezoning from agriculture to development land .
2 ) The developer will have to excise the hill land constraint , meaning you cannot develop if its zone hill land . Example in Balik Pulau , its worse , even flat land , beside the main road is still deem water catchment areas …
3 ) Compensation for squatters to have vacant possession .
Add another RM 10 per square feet for vacant possession and add another for conversion fees from agriculture/hill land to development land .
RM30 per square ft , still cheap ? for a piece of land which is a third or fourth piece from the main rd !!
What about construction cost which hill land and in particular that area is full of granite outcropping which need to be blasted ?
What about height constraint ? anything above 250ft cannot be develop ? When buying a piece of land of 2.5 hectares of which only maybe 1.5 hectares is usable for construction and for building ? the rest will have to be turn into open space and parks /playground ?
Get your facts right next time before you open your trap door !
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
wow, there are so many version of what happened in Kg Buah Pala. The only way to know the truth is to have a live face-to-face 3-way dialogue; Team KSK, Team PR & Team High Chaparal residents.
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
I wonder what it is that makes anyone anywhere sit on their laurels and think that smart voters – who live within a one-voter-one equal vote democratic system, such as that in place in Malaysia – only have democratic voting choices between sorry political failures or potentially sorry failures when it comes to choosing their governments and political leaders.
Isn’t it often said that a day is a long time in politics? So perhaps the PR-political folk should wise-up and heed that saying and perhaps try to understand that everyone only gets one chance to make a lasting, good first impression. Harsh maybe, but apparently, that’s how it is out there in the cold reality of the fast-spinning political world.
KTK and his BN-state government may have created the problem but only the present state government has the required clout and power to help fix the problem. Perhaps it can use any extraordinary powers that may be vested in it to force the Federal Government, as legal trustee, to re-examine the original KBP housing trust land disposal transaction (by the KTK BN-state government) to the civil service cooperative and to either apply for a court order to set aside that suspected fraudulent transaction resulting from potential alleged collusion and “insider dealings” or to compulsorily re-purchase the KBP land from the developer for the same purchase price taht the developer paid to the civil service cooperative vendor.
If that sale transaction is forced to be set aside, then if the developer purchaser is in reality a bona fide purchaser in law (although this is somewhat doubtful because the developer must have known that the KBP land was housing trust land and so should have double-checked as to whether the civil service cooperative had the power to pass good legal title) it should be able to pursue the civil service cooperative for redress i.e. repayment of the purchase price paid and/or compensation for any reasonable losses connected with that land transaction.
Perhaps CM LGE could then go one step further for a win-win solution by preserving the KBP land as a heritage site and also building good quality low cost housing there for the benefit of the present villagers and also other Penang folk who may now be unable to find good, affordable housing elsewhere to rent or to buy.
Now wouldn’t that be an all singing, all dancing CAT-alytic solution by a strong and people-oriented smart political leader?
Gee, even cynical me may want to rush in there and vote for such a caring and winning politician!
“Imagine Power To The People” John Lennon.
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
I wanted to know what was the ‘PROMISE’ DAP made to Kg Buah Pala residents? Was the promise to ‘RE-EXAMINE’ the issue OR did they promise that they will ‘SETTLE’ and return the land to these residents?
IF DAP said the latter, then i think Guan Eng is digging his own grave.
IF DAP said the earlier, then i see no foul play or so called broken promises.
Suppose THIS was the scenario instead:
BN is the state government. BN sold their land. Residents complaint to BN. BN says no issue. Residents complaint to DAP, DAP say NO issue & not DAP that sold the land. Then what is the residents then going to do come election?? Vote some more BN?
The way i see it, if the sale is binding and acted within the power of the then CM, whether morally right or wrong, there is little the current administration can do, unless the state govt want to attract mountains of lawsuits which the ‘judges’ will have their field day. To use S76 and buy back the land, yea rite, the developer will definitely want that, you pay premium la…high high premium! for what?! that is exactly what they wanted…money.
Head you lose your land, Tail you also lose your land, why not walk out with dignity and say NO to BN which should be what GE12 is all about. Let the tale of your LAND be a bold reminder of a once failed government BN!
instead of buying back the land at high premium, why not CM direct a large traffic or built a Puspakom around the land?? haha…that would surely drive the value down to almost nothing. hahah…
why not let UthayaKumar be the CM for a day? if he thinks the solution is so simple that is to use S76, why not then ask him where does he thinks the money is going to come from, and when the money is paid to the developer, what would happen to the rest of the Penang folks and the development of Penang now that the state Government is broke?? just let Hindraf be the decision maker la.
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Stupid Perfume Spray,
YES, YOU ARE MORE STUPID THAN I THOUGHT. Lebih bodoh daripada …
Corrupt government, corrupt political parties and corrupt politicians can win election after election because of STUPID rakyat like you are still around.
NOT CHEAP???? Why there is no open tender, no open auction???? Only stupid people like you will not agree it is cheap and will not push goverment to be more transparent on land sales and tender.
You sounded like from the group of people who benefited from this corrupt close system. Stop using this Anil website to justify and to prolong the corrupt close system.
WHATEVER STUPID FIGURES and STUPID EXCUSES that you put up are not going to fool Penang people unless there is a open land sales and tender system.
Anyone is free to comment here, subject to my discretion. – Anil
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
nb ?? No ….? I may be stupid but I gotta … unlike you No … .
If its cheap don’t you think they are other developers who might be interested ? Are you from Penang ? Have you been to the place in question ? If not I am talking to a piece of dead wood .
The issue today is not the price that the previous govt sold to Nuesmero Ventures , but what exactly happened to get the villagers to protest against the DAP and not the BN and Koh Tsu Koon .
Don’t try to divert the issue to that of the price of the land .
The issue is the villagers knew they have to be vacated before the last GE . They knew the land was sold , how much and to who is none of their business . They knew they had to move and were talking about compensation until someone came along and promised them the moon and the sky . Hello , no need to move , vote for us , when we are the gomen we will make sure the land comes back to you .
That is the issue .
Do you understand or not or do I have to repeat …! block head .
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Perhaps CM LGE could then go one step further for a win-win solution by preserving the KBP land as a heritage site
Heritage site ? Whole of Penang can be considered a Heritage Site or Heritage Island by virtue of it being called Prince of Wales Island once .
And moreover that place is out of the Heritage Zoning .
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0