A developer is threatening to sue the Penang state government for tens of millions of ringgit.

The developer is one of four that was compelled to scale down its project to abide by Unesco guidelines for the preservation of George Town’s world heritage site listing.

Instead of timidly conceding the possibility of paying compensation (as it has in the past, thus possibly having the opposite effect of emboldening developers to sue the government), the Penang state government should publicly name the developer concerned and challenge it all the way.

A few Penangites already know who the developer is, but I will leave it to the Penang state government to come out and formally identify the developer.

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It was a sad, sad day for Kampung Buah Pala as a demolition team smashed the homes of villagers who had struggled to protect and preserve their 200-year-old settlement.

Photos by an eye-witness

1930: “My heart is completely broken today. Where were all the NGOs and political parties?” lamented a volunteer who had stood by the villagers. “Nobody was there … to see for themselves the pain the people went through. (I was) standing there and watching the demolition helplessly.”

“Even trees were not spared. A goat took refuge under a tractor. Dogs and cats were helpless with nowhere to go.”

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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

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