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Villagers: “We want our land which is our life”

Anil Netto
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The Kampung Buah Pala residents have released a statement today, expressing dissatisfaction with Pakatan politicians who had promised to defend their right to the land during the general election campaign last year.

The villagers, who had earlier filed a complaint with the MACC over the land deal, are also claiming that not all families and households were offered compensation.

Some excerpts from the statement:

If the present State Government cannot stop the demolition then it is adopting the abuse of power by the previous government and is a party to it.

…We ask the state government to act now and at least stop and postpone the demolition. It can direct the developer and the police to do so. It should not abdicate its responsibility and shirk its responsibility.

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CM: Penang can’t afford to acquire High Chaparral land

Anil Netto
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Penang Chief Minister Guan Eng makes several points:

  • The crisis was created under the previous BN administration;
  • The Buah Pala villagers should distinguish between their friends and those responsible for their predicament;
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PKR councillor’s sacking from MPSP creates a stir

Anil Netto
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The Penang state exco has removed Johari Kassim as councillor of the Seberang Prai Municipal Council (MPSP) with effect from 26 June.

Johari, the PKR whip at the council, had led a boycott of the swearing-in ceremony of new council president Mokhtar Mohd Jait, a former district officer of northern Seberang Perai. Johari claimed that the Council president’s post was reserved for PKR.

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High Chaparral: Deputy CM Mansor to meet developers

Anil Netto
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Deputy Chief Minister Mansor Othman is to meet the Oasis developers tomorrow to discuss the crisis faced by High Chaparral villagers facing eviction, according to a media source.

He expressed some optimism that the developers could be persuaded not to file the writ of eviction on the residents just yet.  The residents want their village to be preserved as a cultural and heritage area.

Mansor’s meeting with the developers will thrust the new Deputy CM into the spotlight and provide a stern test of his mettle under pressure.

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Now it’s 1Sarawak…

Anil Netto
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From 1Malaysia… it’s now 1Sarawak… Or is it from 1Sarawak towards 1Malaysia?

Whatever.

I just wonder what “1Sarawak” would mean to those struggling to protect their native customary land from encroachment by plantation and logging firms or to those being displaced by the state’s dam-building frenzy.

Excerpt of a report from The Borneo Post:

Promoting 1M’sia with 1S’wak

Concepts vital to thwart effects of new-style politics which could be detrimental to progress

SRI AMAN: Sarawak is ready to lead the way in realising the 1Malaysia concept by developing its own version called the ‘1Sarawak’.

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Frustrated villagers gather outside Adun’s house

Anil Netto
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Photos by Kris Khaira and another

2100: As time runs out, a few dozen High Chaparral villagers have gathered outside the house of the Adun for Seri Delima, R S N Rayer, located off Jalan Masjid Negeri/Green Lane.

Some of the frustrated villagers call for his resignation. “We were betrayed by the BN government previously,” says one of them. “We voted for the Pakatan government, hoping they could bring about change. But we have been let down again.”

No one emerges from the house. The lights inside are off though the porch with cars parked in it is lit.

Several of the villagers are being interviewed by reporters. One of them claims that the village land could have been federal instead of state land. He says that when the Housing Trust was dissolved in the 1970s, “Vested Crown” land should have gone to the federal government.

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Time running out for High Chaparral villagers

Anil Netto
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The hourglass has been inverted and the fine sand is now rushing out of the narrow tube into the bottom bulb. The bailiff has obtained a Penang High Court order for the residents of Kampong Buah Pala to vacate their premises as a prelude to demolition.

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Najib to Obama: M’sia strongly believes in democracy

Anil Netto
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Would you believe it? When Obama phoned, Najib told him that Malaysia strongly believes “in the ideals and principles of democracy, including accountability and transparency”.

I wonder if he mentioned how 900 police and riot police personnel turned up to try and stop the DAP from holding a dinner in Klang on 21 June and in the end, carted away the PA system and forbade the organisers from making speeches.

Najib also discussed Obama’s plan to close down the Guantanamo detention camp and indicated Malaysia’s willingness to accept two Malaysian detainees held there. Would they receive a fair trial in Malaysia’s democracy?

In line with Malaysia’s professed strong belief in democracy, would the Malaysian government similarly shut down the Kamunting Detention Centre for good?

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TBRA urges Penang govt to act against MPPP failures

Anil Netto
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[poll id=”42″]

Frustrated by the silence and the perceived inaction of the Penang state government, the Tanjung Bunga Residents Association has written a letter to exco members Chow Kon Yeow and Phee Boon Poh, expressing its concerns about property development projects on steep hill slopes. The group is also calling for action to be taken against those in the Penang Municipal Council who were responsible for approving such projects:

TBRA notes the press article in today’s Star (25 June 2009) with some concern as it only talks about rectifying the steep slopes and that TBRA has not heard of any other measures to be taken despite the submissions of memorandums, letters, police reports and other meetings with State Government officials from Feb to June 2009.

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Chancellor who?

Anil Netto
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Today’s pop quiz: Who is the Chancellor of Universiti Industri Selangor?

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