Devamany: Solve ammo depot issue fast

PETALING JAYA: Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department SK Devamany has called on the government to solve the ammunition depot issue in Sungai Petani, Kedah, as soon as possible.

“I feel that the government must look at this issue seriously. And I wish there is a fast solution. The relevant ministry (defence ministry) must ensure the safety of the people, which is of paramount importance to us,” he told FMT.

Devamany said he hoped that an amicable solution could be reached so that the main complainant, M Annamalai, could end his struggle concerning a plot of land near the ammunition depot.

“I wish him all the best and I think he has some valid grounds for his case. We can’t just let him sit there and have no solution to this,” he said.

Annamalai is asking the government to acquire a plot of his family’s land that is deemed dangerously close to the depot.

He had previously sought Devamany’s help, and the latter had last year written letters to Defence Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and the National Security Council director appealing to them to assist Annamalai in acquiring the plot of land.

However, there had been no response thus far.

On Jan 4, FMT reported that residents living close to the depot located within the Sungai Layar army camp in the Kuala Muda district could be in danger of a possible explosion.

High risks

Annamalai, a 37-year-old interior designer, had warned that a disaster was waiting to happen based on government documents he obtained when he tried in vain to both develop and sell the plot of land, located some 300m from the depot, since 1995.

There were also several residential areas and two schools near the depot.

When FMT visited the area, residents wanted the government and the defence ministry to provide an assurance that the place was safe.

For years, documents and letters from government departments stated that the risks of “loss of life and damage to property” in the area were extremely high.

However, after Annamalai’s plight was reported in the media, the government last year told him that the land was “safe”.

Recently, Minister in Prime Minister’s Department Nazri Abdul Aziz had agreed to meet with Annamalai and vowed to do his best to help him.