The descendants of settlers from Kwangchow have been waiting a dozen years for the compensation they were promised after they were forced to vacate their family homes along Jalan Raja Uda in Butterworth to make way for a major property development project.
Photos by Anil Netto – click icon on bottom right to toggle to full-screen slideshow mode
Today, their temporary concrete and zinc-roofed homes are rapidly decaying while the elusive agreed compensation – 800 sq ft three-bedroom medium-cost apartments – is nowhere in sight.
Since the mid-1990s, over 300 households scattered over 50 acres have lost their family homes to the Raja Uda Commercial Centre project in Butterworth. This project comprises rows of new shophouses, each priced at between RM500,000 to RM1 million, fronting both sides of a one-kilometre stretch of Jalan Raja Uda towards the intersection with Jalan Telaga Air/Jalan Siram.
Some 200 settlers had accepted cash compensation ranging from RM20,000 to RM60,000 while 72 others signed compensation agreements in 1996/97 for a medium-cost apartment worth around RM80,000. Another 50 households or so are affected by the latest phase of the project.
Of those 72 households, 27 chose to find temporary rented accommodation elsewhere while 45 were given temporary housing: 600 sq ft two-bedroom units in rows of long-houses (the blue-coloured area of the map).
But these houses, not built to last, are falling apart. A few residents have placed additional corrugated sheets – held down by bricks to prevent them from flying off – on top of damaged roofing. Gaps in the roofing have led to leakages, which have stained ceiling boards. Termite infestation is worsening.
The 27 who opted for rented accommodation while waiting for the apartments were given a RM400 monthly rental subsidy, but this stopped after about 18 months, say village committee members.
In 2001, the Seberang Perai Municipal Council (MPSP), then under the BN, stunned the settlers when it approved the construction of low-cost flats on the site that was meant for the settlers’ medium-cost apartments. These low-cost flats (see photo), to meet the developer’s social housing quota, are meant for the general public – not the affected settlers – and are to be allotted by the state. The low-cost blocks are almost completed but have not yet received Occupational Certificates (OCs).
The site for the medium-cost apartments was moved to the site originally meant for the low-cost housing – the same spot where the settlers now live in their longhouses (the blue area). This creates another dilemma: how is the developer going to build the medium-cost apartments as compensation for the settlers when their temporary longhouses are located on the site?
The original developer was Cherating Development Sdn Bhd. In 2000, the business was taken over by Woolley Development Sdn Bhd.
The 50 households affected by the latest phase of the project – another row of shophouses possibly priced at up to a million ringgit each – could receive cash compensation ranging from only RM8,000 to RM20,000.
Most of the settlers arrived in Jalan Raja Uda in the 1920s and 1930s from Kwangchow, a sub-provincial city that is the capital of Guangdong province in southern China. Mostly Teochew and Hokkien-speaking, they toiled as farmers and reared livestock in the area, selling their produce in the town market near the Maha Mariamman Devasthanam Temple in Bagan, the Butterworth old town centre. Next to the temple stood the old jetty where open-air wooden-platform ferries, guided and pulled forward by cables, plied between Butterworth and George Town. (Bagan incidentally means jetty or landing point; there is even a Bagan in Burma.) The sole Punjabi family in the area, who reared cattle, supplied the local folk with milk.
In the 1950s, the younger generation began working at the new Khian Guan Biscuit Manufacturing Company in Jalan Siram at the intersection with Jalan Raja Uda. It was the first factory in the area, well before the establishment of the nearby Mak Mandin Industrial Estate, one of the oldest industrial zones in the country.
Jalan Raja Uda before the 1960s was just a sand road, largely traffic-free, on which kids sometimes played marbles. Alongside the road, the more mischievous ones climbed trees and snared birds with glue. If they were unfortunate, a passing policeman might order them to come down and do ear-squats. Whole families would pull out brightly coloured chairs, made of plastic straps around a metal frame, to sit by the road and savour the evening breeze. The children studied at the nearby Chung Hwa (Central) School in Kampong Gajah Road and the branch school in Telaga Air Road.
Today, the children of the pre-war settlers may not live long enough to see their final homes and die with dignity if the compensation is not hurriedly given. Seven or eight of them have already passed away since the compensation agreements were signed a dozen years ago.
The MPSP, now under Pakatan, still has some leverage: it can see to it that the settlers are properly compensated before issuing the OCs for the project. Will those still alive receive a fair deal before it’s too late?
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Perhaps we need a law that force developer to sign a formal agreement before any demolition is taking place. Nowadays, even verbal promise by any PM/President also cannot be trusted. More troops for Afghanistan, refusal to honor peace pact (*** this is written agreement ! ***), etc.
The best option is of course to accept cash payment. I’m also so skeptical that even bank to bank money transfer will cause some problem and totally refuse to accept any check payment.
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More troops for Afghanistan will hasten the departure of the US army from the sacred land. The British, Russian and now the Americans are going to taste the bitter lessons of defeat!!!
Malaysia is blessed with Islam as the official religion and is a secular country. We enjoy the multi racial workings of the people, but, we see how wrong the religion is being and continued to be (abused) by those in power!!!!!!
We welcome people to quote ” Allah”. we welcome each other to bersalam in the Middle East, Pakistan, Africa, but here even the salam are not replied or easily brushed aside…
I foresee the political party with the moon shape, the rocket and the eye to form the new Malaysian Government shortly. There will be a better chance for everyone in Malaysia.
Yes, the above residents had been so badly cheated by the “weighing scale”. They say, “Work differently than what they promised”. Meaning they never keep their promise. Too much corruptions and misleading the people of this fantastic country!
History showed that such corrupt governments will not last as the people will get so fed up and overthrow it. I foresee this coming in the immediate future. God bless this great country!
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another … by the previous BN govt for the Pakatan Govt. to clear up.
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Its another screw up by the previous government. Anil comments is very biased. First of all the people have been promised a low cost flat and they have been temporarily given 2 room long house. The project ran into problems and was replaced by another developer. The new developer has promise to complete Blk B for them to move in. As in any problematic projects there will always be some delay. And the PR representatives are helping out to solve any issues that come about.
Anil is now trying to pin the problems on to the LGE & PR government instead of the KTK govt… I wonder why !!!!!
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12 years is certainly a long wait. If a promise made for such a long while, without the possibility of seeing some reality to their home soon, are’t such a promise tantamount to an act of deception.
If the government in power really have a heart for the ordinary rakyats, surely they would not stand idle and allow the Bully Developer to continue with his ways.
Can somebody in power please help them! What happen to our civilised society? Are we still border with the blame game of BN or Pakatan Gavernment ?
Lets have some sanity to cambat irresponsible acts by those who are rich and powerful, and those who continue to deceive the poor folks.
If the wakil rakyats in the area are still in slumber regarding this case, MAY I BEG, please, please, please carry out your basic responsibility as a Yang Berhormat!!!
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D PR state government seems keener on CAT – Condominium, Apartment & Towers, not the welfare of the ppl.
Kapitan Bukit Cina LGE from Malacca has yet to settle even the compensation issue of 9 long staying residents of High Chaparral.
(The sale of) the village land, which was under trust for the residents, (was sealed by the Land Office under his administration).
(The village was) demolished and flattened… He then displayed showbiz propaganda to portray himself as High Chaparral hero by claiming he had offered double-storey house compensation for 24 house owners. D houses were given to even those who had already accepted the original flat unit compensation and left the village a few years ago. After fighting heart and soul to save their village, the nine residents got nothing. LGE should stop spinning… and manipulating facts. Just recall the recent foreshore land issue.
(The same thing might happen) in Raja Uda and Tanjung Tokong, blaming it all on previous government…. Kapitan, pls resign… God save Penang.
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Are you a Penangnite? Who are you to demand LGE’s resignation? Will you be fit enough to stand in his shoes? If so, stand for election in the next GE against him!
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Megat,
Don`t try to distort the facts. Those who leave a few year ago were given a 75,000/= flat plus 90,000 compensation. Those whose house were demolished recently and who have accepted the offer were given a 1400 sq ft double storey house. On top of that they were given 8,000 & 3000 for relocation purpose. As for those who leave earlier instead of the 75,000 flat they were now being given the 1,400 sq ft double storey house being a bonus as they get to keep the 90,000 cash compensation.
Yes, the 9 families will get nothing if they continue with their antic. Ramasamy has said recently that they are still in negotiation with the developer for them to be offered the 1400 sq ft double storey house. But I hope that LGE & PR will butt them off. There should be no more negotiation. After creating all the fracas let them go an ask UMNO, MIC and Gerakan. My stand is no more negotiation.!!!!! they have caused enough trouble already for the people and government. The people of Penang and government cannot be held to ransom by these 9 families…..
You don`t know anything about Raja Uda or Tg Tokong….
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Right on Yang. The people of Penang support the new young PR govt. When GE13 comes, I will bet with anyone who wants to place a wager…that PR will retain power in Penang.
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If a developer didn’t fulfill his agreement for 12 years, then he has the intention of not fulfilling his agreement at all.
Can the CAT government of Penang help them? They have suffer so much.
The sufferings can be further viewed here:
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It would be instructive to know what kind of agreement that they had signed. If it was anything like the kg.buah pala’s agreement then developer basically has no time frame to honour the terms of the contract.
I am also wondering whether LGE actually knew of such dirty-handed scam when he recommended to the residence of KBP.
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anil,
you anti BN?
whats the problem?
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The Raja Uda squatters have not been infirtrated by the other political party yet, i.e. MCA , and the Pakatan government have no reason to ignore the plea for help from this group of unfortunate and victimised people.
There were so many instances that the Pakatan Government have monkeyed ( SEE NOTHING, HEAR NOTHING AND SAY NOTHING) upon the poor residents of Penang.
Are the Pakatan Government scared to be sooed again? Such an attitude shows a total lack of civil leadership. Have Penangites elected Eunuchs to govern?
Penangites have enough of excuses from this CAT government, especially the failure to tackle the basic problems affecting the masses. Enough is enough. We are having CAT s… uttering here and there.
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Mr Yang, you have just lost your senses and being blind to the real problems on the ground. Just go to the ground and talk to the Squatters of Jalan Raja Uda. 99% of these squatters can tell you how they feel about the failed expectation of the New ( oh, no more new) Pakatan Government.
They despise upon Their Yang Berhormats, who don’t give a damn care to their sufferings.
Mr Yang, please come, come and see and talk to us in real life. No politicking please.
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You really lost your sense. Things happen during GErakan time and we expect PR to made good all the … by Gerakan who have been running the shows for 50 years? What about japs kill all the malayans more than 60 years ago. Still dig them up?
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In clearing squatters its always best to give CASH or CASH with an option to purchase a unit at a special price when the S&P is ready to be executed. This will ensure that the above situation never happens. I used to clear squatters in Butterworth and Bukit Mertajam back in the 90′s, when the developer suggests that it be settled by way of taking a unit, I will always ignore it, for obvious reasons.
LGE did not realise how bad it can go for KBP with the current form of settlement, it is because of lousy advisers and his inexperience (through no fault of his for the latter).
But one thing Anil fails to see, the Raja Uda people are mere licensees with NO rights. I know the area well enough.
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Yang … please check about your comments on Ramasamy trying to negotiate for the 9, inside stories show that he is not that hot with the 9. People say a lot … just like Rayer. Remember, Ramasamy and Karpal sat there when Rayer promised that ponggol will be celebrated every year at KBP. Things are not what they seem to be.
Oh yes … the story is that Karpal and/or Ramsamy was not keen for LGE to visit KBP, says LGE would be (given a tough time). How nice …
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Megat Jittendran,
Assalam’mualaikum, a Muslim Megat?
It is “haram” to accuse someone without proper facts and proofs. The present rocket led Government only came into power in March 2008. If you read and understand the writings, the above happened during the mid 90′s, all this happen during the time of the previous Government, under one political eunuch, who had got no authority and had to take orders from his evil political masters, UMNO. The political eunuch was a kind man, but, in politics, matters of the heart does not matter, it is serving the people and being seen assisting the people without fear and favour that matters. The previous CM is best suited to be a priest, certainly not a politician, as he lacked leadership material.
You need to understand that the project was “sold” to Woolley Development Sdn. Bhd. This Company belongs to BN cronies not in the state of Penang but a neighbouring state just south of Penang, and there is a foodcourt built in a place called, Ipoh Garden, yes, Ipoh by the said developer and named after the developer.
We live to struggle and serve the people, Megat, we should not lie and deceive the masses, many of whom are illiterate and are left to be exploited by those in powers! Please understand that “power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely”. When bestowed with power, serve, do not be jealous and spin lies all over. It is a great sin, insyaallah, God forgives you for writing and spreading things with bad intentions.
You see, what the present Federal Government is doing is all so wrong. Holding back money for the preservation of heritage site is certainly not the work of the Federal Government. It is state matters and Penang is the place where the heritage site is situated. There are alot of heritage sites but they were destroyed by the “weighing scale” for the sake of making more monies. Today, you can see flood in the capital just after an hour of downpour. This is God’s way of saying, ” You had done wrong”.
Holding back royalty to our Muslims brothers and sisters in the eastern coast state is wrong. “Wang Ehsan” they said, when it should be money owed to the Rakyat, is evil. The people there needs the money, and holding back their money and corruptly pocketing them is against our religion, Megat. That leader there, a highly respected religious teacher, is a gift to the country, Megat. Even the president of Iran, respects him for his modest way of living, he can live in stone castles but he chosed to live in a wooden house. Leadership by example, and that is why till today, the people still return him to power year after year. Even the president of Iran, takes note of his sacrifices and today refused to stay in a castle but instead chose to live in a wooden hut. Unlike an Indonesian Muslim, who was made the CM of a rich state, this CM was so corrupted, squandering hundreds of millions of the peoples money, and today he is so rich but he is never a happy man.
I end my call to you to stop spinning and return to the right path. Bismillah irahman irahim. Together, the moon, the rocket and the eye prevail and let us see kindness being spread to all instead of seeing the cruel manner in which the people here are treated. Very soon, prices of almost everything in the country will increase and this will make millions of Muslimats and Muslimins suffer, including those of our non Muslim brothers and sisters. Stop the evil regime, Megat, stop spreading false hood. Allahu akhbar!!
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O, that’s very zen-like name.
PR may be in the government for a very short time but if what it does as a matter of policy emulated the world-view, philosophy and practices of BN then the rakyat is again being befooled by politicians on both sides of the divide.
It would be interesting to study the agreement that these folks entered into with the one signed by KBP residence. If there are no different then what moral or ethical ground can PR stand on ?
I am not a supporter of any political party and as such I owe no loyalty to any of them accept to truth as I see it. Isn’t this what islam is all about as well ?
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Saya simpati pada LGE,
terlalu banyak … dari pemerintahan sebelumnya terpaksa ditanggung.
All the best LGE and PR gov.
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… Megat Jittendran! What … are you talking about. The 9 troublemakers from Kg BP are now begging DAP & DCM Ramasamy for help after creating chaos among all those wanted to take such a super payout!. The rest of ex-KBP have distanced themselves from Sugumaran and gang.
Also why do you blame PR for the crisis in Jalan Raja Uda and Tg Tokong?? This was all done during the reign of the (political) Eunuch CM TKT!
Get your bloody facts right before shooting…! STUPID or what??
God Save Penang from (people) like you!
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This is so common…most squatters demolished without proper helps in the past.
Kg Buah Pala squatters got the best deal in Malaysia history as I know of.
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I wonder if anyone has talked to the displaced squatters of Jalan Raja Uda to get their opinion on which party they will vote in GE 13.
If the duty of the state is only to allocate the low cost units, it means the occupiers must still pay the developer for the ownership of those units. There is no free lunch.
Basically any negotiation of compensation is between the affected parties and things do get complicated if the original developer abandon the project. The state can only hold the … of the original developer. They normally do not have the same leverage to the new owner who comes in at greater risks to revive an abandoned project. When a project fails, it carries financial implications, including compensation to earlier agreements between the squatters and the developer.
Thus, former residents of KBP had better pray hard that the Oasis project proceeds smoothly without problem and that the owners make money for their effort. Otherwise, the same fate may befall them.
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Uthayakumar, HRP, MIC Youth from Mak Mandin, where are you? Gerakan, MCA where are you all? You all took part in the protest against the Chief Minister, will you all be fighting for the Rakyat? Why the deafening silence? Shame on you BN, UMNO, MCA, MIC and most of all Gerakan!!!!!!!
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Malaysians are fortunate to have civil societies who are championing the rights of the ordinary man in the street. They see it upon their common sense of giving ideas, moral support and lending assistance without getting a cent for their efforts.
Throughout the history of ALIRAN, and in particular the many articles contributed by the person known as ANIL NETTO, he is always fortright and fearless in voicing out the rights and sufferings of the small man in the street. During the long tenure of the BN government in Penang, Anil has spoken out against the many WRONGS of the BN Policies and Actions that were detrimental to the interest of Penangites. And not a single occasion has the BN condemn him as Opposition Agent !
The backlash by the Commercial Special Assistant to Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, Jeffrey Chew in The Malaysian Insider, when Anil was highlighting the plight of the Residents of Tanjung Bungah in the Aliran Megazine, shows that the Inner Circles of the Penang Pakatan Government are playing GOD, and above board in accepting critism.
The Civil Socetiety movement in Penang including Anil Netto, have played their part in exposing the many ills of the BN govenment then, and these have played a big part in the 308 Tsunami.
If the Pakatan Government continues to neglect the Rakyats’ interest, come E13, OUT YOU GO !!!
The Jalan Raja Uda squatters need real help and not POLITICAL TALK. Talk sense and help them.
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I think the penang government under PR is a tad sensitive to criticism. This was evident from the number of people they had in blogs to counter any negative comments of their handling of the KBP issue. They did not realise that criticisms are often good if it pointed out a serious blind side in their assessment of events and issues. In system science the only valuable feedback is the negative feedback. Only systems that can study and evaluate negative feedback can take appropriate action to remain dynamic, effective and benefitial. Systems that love positive feedback become saturated very quickly and then all it does is eat up resources without doing anything of value.
LGE’s government must have or must develop the capacity to evaluate honest and sincere feedback if it hoped to truly serve the rakyat. True compassion is not a zero-sum game.
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anil,
I would like to get your stand on squatters. From your posts so far you seem pro-squat. I live in sungai ara, penang and over the last 6 months a squatter started building a nice home for himself on state land 50 meters from where i live. By your standards, how long more before he deserves compensation?
Also, when you have the time I invite you over here so we can both pay him a visit. What say you?
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Been waiting 12 years.
First 10 years … by BN.
Will DAP continue this … job?
Or put a stop to these nonsense.
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Another disgraceful legacy of the (political) eunuch Koh Tsu Koon and it will be reflected on his karma.
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Aiyo, yoyo… tripods, tripods so many tripods!
Yang busuk pun dia cakap wangi…
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My parent bought 1 unit of shop in this project, but no title for the shop is available for so long. Already waited for 6 years. Where is the title? This is a serious problem to this company and also this project.
The squatters have signed compensation agreement and entitled to 1 unit of flat each, and they can’t get the flat even waiting for 12 years?
So you see, this company do get care about any agreements that they have signed. They do not (seem to) respect the law.
They are powerful people. They can play around with the Barisan Government in the past. Now they also make Pakatan People to follow what they want? The MPSP is useless. They don’t care. This company control them.
What for we have the councillors in MPSP. Is councillors suppose to look at projects or people’s problems? The past bunch of councillors and the present bunch of councillors are also played by developers?
Check and see. Anybody who have signed any agreements with this developer also they don’t care. They are powerful people. Now Pakatan is in their paw.
People here who voted Barisan got Bullied. Now the people who voted Pakatan also got play out. They got their nose hooked.
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We thought the government would help the people when they got cheated. We thought MPSP have power to take action on the developer when the people suffers. If powerful people can go round bullying the people, surely there is no goument. Or is the goument giving support to these bully?
People will believe the goument is also a gangster… We buy shops but no title. And the goument also let they go. Now they also doing business, and (will) more New buyers (get played out) again? And the goument just watch.
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