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Fires causing haze in Sarawak, Klang

Anil Netto
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The smog is hitting some areas badly – and it is probably caused by fires and open burning in surrounding areas.

The API reading in Bintulu at 5.00pm was 110, Miri – 121, Samarahan – 111 and Port Klang – 113. Anything above 100 is unhealthy.

A contact in Sarawak told me that a friend of his on a flight from Kuching to Sibu tonight spotted open fires all around as the plane approached Sibu.

Two Sundays ago, another friend of his driving from Bintulu to Kuching spotted similar open burning along the way.

What are the authorities doing about such open burning?

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Reprieve for Kg Buah Pala! (updates)

Anil Netto
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Photos by a kind soul

1600: The developer, Nusmetro, has held a press conference in George Town. It denies there was any legal agreement to hold back demolition, according to a reporter at the scene. Only a court order can hold it back, argues Thomas Chan of Nusmetro. The developer is giving the residents until Friday to vacate the land.

Tonight, during its meeting with the residents, the state government is expected to present a more detailed settlement proposal to the villagers, which would probably involve getting the villagers to co-exist next to the Oasis project.

This morning, about 150 residents formed a human barricade at the village when they heard that a demolition team was not far away. Eye-witnesses spotted about 30 white-helmeted workers wearing lime-green T-shirts with the words “SRE Ventures Contractor” and wielding sledge-hammers; some of them appeared to be foreign workers. But no bulldozers were seen and the demolition team failed to show up in the village.

About 100 police personnel observed the villagers forming the barricade.

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And now for some light relief…

Anil Netto
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Look who has entered the Internet world here.

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The other side of Kg Buah Pala

Anil Netto
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When most outsiders hear of Kampung Buah Pala, they tend to think of it as just another crammed “squatter” settlement, with ramshackle houses, surrounded by rubbish and stray animals.

Let me show you the other side of Kg Buah Pala – a side not often seen by outsiders. The village is actually quite scenic, the houses nestled amidst natural greenery. The wooden houses blend in with nature, standing next to rambutan, neem and coconut trees. It is easy to see why the Koperasi and Nusmetro covet this land. But they will only flatten it with orange soil for their construction work.

“People tend to look down on wooden houses,” said one of the villagers, showing me around. “They think that brick and concrete houses are superior, but then they find it so hot inside such houses and apartments even with fans and air-cons. Do you know, when I was growing up here in the village, we had to sleep under double blankets. It was that cool.”

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Uncertainty grips Kg Buah Pala (updates)

Anil Netto
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High Chaparral 019

Tears well up in the eyes of Sugumaran, the residents committee chairperson – Photo by Anil

2118: “I can really see sincere tears rolling down the faces of some of the villagers,” says a Penangite. “The fear of losing their shelter; kids can’t prepare for exams. This is life. Imagine if we are in their shoes.”

2053: Talks are still ongoing between the Penang state government and the developer. The state government finds itself in an unenviable position, hemmed in by residents’ demos, the developer apparently willing to negotiate but the Cooperative playing hardball, Umno(?), and what it believes to be political opportunists making use of the villagers. Much is at stake, for all sides.

2031: The villagers held a candlelight vigil and have now ended their gathering. Guan Eng was not in.

“We heard on the eight o’clock news that they are coming in tomorrow to demolish,” says a worried villager.

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Haze blankets Samarahan in Sarawak

Anil Netto
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Visibility has been reduced to 1.0 – 1.5km in the Samarahan area, according to a contact in Sarawak.

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Moment of truth for Kg Buah Pala (updates)

Anil Netto
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2000: The Penang Government Officers Cooperative is adamant that it wants to demolish the Kg Buah Pala houses tomorrow, reports the NST/Bernama here. “We are not cruel, but our decision to demolish the village still stands because the court has decided the land is ours,” the cooperative chairman Abdul Razak Mansor is quoted as saying.

This effectively throws a spanner in the ongoing talks between the state government and the developer, Nusmetro, to resolve the crisis, according to a source.

Meanwhile, villagers reportedly have taken a week off from work to protect their homes from demolition. They are also expecting many activists and sympathisers to turn up tomorrow to lend their support, reports theSun.

1500: The developer and state government leaders are believed to be holding round-the-clock talks to resolve this crisis, a source informs me. The talks, which could continue tomorrow, may be extended if they fail to come up with a solution.

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Aftermath of the Abolish ISA rally

Anil Netto
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Photos by Ong and others

Here are a few more pics from the streets of KL as the Abolish ISA rally was drawing to a close.

The last two were taken this morning. Notice the FRU trucks at Bukit Jalil and the two teenagers, 16 and 13, in handcuffs.

Whatever your estimate of the turnout yesterday, this was easily the largest anti-ISA rally in Malaysian history. A couple of eye-witnesses told me it was bigger than the Bersih rally – which drew some 50,000 people – so that would put the turnout for yesterday’s rally at around 50,000 to 60,000 perhaps.

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Kg Buah Pala villagers to move to adjacent site?

Anil Netto
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In a critical meeting today with Lim Guan Eng, Kampung Buah Pala residents were said to have agreed to consider moving their village as an intact heritage community to an adjacent area…

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LIVE: 589 arrests at ‘massive’ Abolish ISA rally

Anil Netto
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Photos courtesy of The Edge via Flickr

For other live coverage in English of the Abolish ISA gathering in KL, click here.

For live coverage in Malay, go here.

For live photo updates, go here.

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