anilnetto.com

Buah Pala residents agree in principle, but…

-

7 Aug 2009

In the confusion that surrounds the Kg Buah Pala crisis, a different version of events over the last 24 hours has emerged.

About 80 per cent of the villagers participated in a meeting last night along with several activists. The villagers are understandably upset – there is a strong sense that they have experienced a grave injustice.
The meeting was witnessed by Sungai Siput MP Dr Jeyakumar Devaraj, who revealed some of the villagers’ main reservations over the developer’s offer.

According to him, the villagers have agreed in principle to the developer’s proposal – but subject to further fleshing out and clarification to ensure they are given a decent deal that protects their interests.

They are willing to dialogue and negotiate further with the developer and the state government on these points.

Their main reservation centres on the number of houses: 24 terrace houses is simply not going to be enough given that there are over 40 families (though not as high as the 60-odd families mentioned by some villagers). So they need more than 24 terrace houses.

Continue

On the arrests of teens at the Abolish ISA rally

Anil Netto

-

7 Aug 2009

5

Also, check out a poll on the ISA at the news portal of the Home Affairs Ministry, no less.

As at 8.06pm, 91 per cent of over 9,000 respondents want the ISA abolished – an identical result (91 per cent) to what my own blog poll revealed in May.

Continue

Kg Buah Pala: Face of anguish

Anil Netto

-

7 Aug 2009

49

Anguish etches the face of Muniammah, 75, at the front door of her home, as she stares out at an uncertain future. – Photo by Anil

Earlier, Muniammah had come up to a few visitors to the village, her hands clasped as if pleading with us for help: “Where will we go after this?” she asked, almost in tears. “We don’t have any money for rental.”

Her parents arrived from India decades ago – she doesn’t know exactly when – and her mother lived in Kampung Buah Pala until she was 90.

She showed a couple of us around her family home, her back hunched as she struggled to walk up the steep path leading from the lane to the front door.

Continue

Buah Pala villagers miss noon deadline

Anil Netto

-

7 Aug 2009

57

1300: Kampung Buah Pala residents have not met a noon deadline to accept a compensation offer by Nusmetro, according to a contact at the scene.

In a just concluded press conference, they expressed anxiety over the conditions attached to the offer. They claimed that Nusmetro’s offer itself was illegal as the temporary title to the land in the Koperasi’s name prohibited any transaction.

Continue

Kg Buah Pala: More questions

Anil Netto

-

6 Aug 2009

46

Let’s go back a bit and look at the timeline:

3 October 2005 – Nusmetro enters into a joint venture with the Koperasi.

5 October 2006 – Planning permission is given by the local authorities.

27 March 2008 – Temporary title (Borang 11AK) (99 year lease) is registered in the name of the Koperasi. The title contains a restriction saying that there can be no transfer, lease, sub-lease or any transaction.

There are also two caveats shown on this temporary title document:

Continue

Is Selangor next?

M'sian politics

Anil Netto

-

6 Aug 2009

29

After Perak, is the BN now eyeing Selangor? That is the question that seems to be on quite a few minds.

Malaysians politics is now in a state of flux, with both the BN and the Pakatan suffering a series of setbacks.

This is a piece I wrote for Asia Times:

No winners in Malaysia’s political tussle
By Anil Netto

PENANG – The political situation in Malaysia is in a state of flux as both the ruling coalition and the opposition alliance face mounting challenges and uncertainties.

Continue

Selangor Dam water level drops

Environment

Anil Netto

-

6 Aug 2009

5

Photo courtesy of Magick River

The Magick River blog reports that the water level at the Selangor Dam has plummeted.

Continue

Buah Pala villagers given until Friday noon

Anil Netto

-

5 Aug 2009

45

More details of the compensation package have emerged, which supersedes my earlier post on the subject.

Here is the summary of the package gleaned from a copy of a letter obtained from one of the villagers. The two-page letter dated 4 August bears the signature of a director of Nusmetro (name not given):

Two-storey terrace houses to be erected on plots measuring 20 feet by 60 feet each. The built-up area of each will be roughly 1,400 square feet.
The villagers have to withdraw all legal action.

Continue

Kg Buah Pala: The controversial deal

Anil Netto

-

5 Aug 2009

27

Here’s an article that should be essential reading in understanding the background to the Kg Buah Pala issue.

In particular, how did Penang state government sell the land to the Koperasi when the trusteeship is believed to have passed to the Federal Government?

Continue