Richard de Zoysa was a well-known Sri Lankan journalist, author, rights activist and actor, who was kidnapped and murdered on 18 February 1990. He was the nephew of the Malaysian political scientist Dr Johan Saravanamuttu.
Richard’s death, widely believed to have been carried out by a death squad linked to elements within the Sri Lankan government, sparked outrage across the country.
Well, most of you didn’t get it quite right with your prediction for Pas to win by a bigger majority. So what’s the reason for the reduced majority?
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Okay, all you political pundits out there, let’s see what your prediction is for the outcome of the Manek Urai by-election in Kelantan today. So far, you have by and large accurately predicted the results of previous by-elections.
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The Kampung Buah Pala land in Gelugor was once owned by David Brown, a wealthy spice plantation owner during the early British colonial era in Penang who died in 1825.
Title to the land eventually reached one of his descendants, Helen Margaret Brown. For more information on David Brown and his descendants, go here and here.
Check out this copy of the Straits Settlement “Grant of Land” bestowing title to Helen Margaret Brown in 1938:
A lot has been said about the High Chaparral residents being “squatters” (setinggan). Many of them are actually descendants of workers brought in by the Brown family, who allowed them to live on the land.
On the reverse side of the Grant of Land, we can see the “sub-divided Lot 691 acquired by Crown for housing Trust – vested in Crown on 12.4.(1954?)”.
Could this be the lifeline that could save Kampong Buah Pala from demolition on 2 Aug? This adds to the uncertainty faced by the developer. Check out this excerpt from a Sun report:
The Kampung Buah Pala saga took a twist today when the state government revealed a trump card in its bid to protect villagers from an impending demolition after the Aug 2 eviction deadline.
Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng showed reporters a provision under section 116 of the National Land Code that stipulates a building on alienated land cannot be demolished, altered or extended without prior consent in writing of the appropriate authority.
Penang Deputy Chief Minister II P Ramasamy has reportedly said that the High Chaparral case is another example of a land scam.
A-ha! Just as we thought.
Ramasamy said there were hints of foul play in the transfer to the government officers’ co-operative:
We have been going through the minutes of the exco meetings when the decision was made to lease the land to the co-operative and some of the remarks made by the state exco members were shocking.
Which brings us to today’s poll question:
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Catholic priest Fr O C Lim successfully underwent heart surgery this morning. His heart valve was also repaired.
Here’s one way to boost the circulation of certain “fortunate” newspapers.
Check out this report in theSun. Guess which newspapers’ circulation will go up….
… the Gerak Bakti Project for the UPSR Amanah Raya Berhad will provide newspapers in the Malay and English languages to rural schools every Monday.
