An aide to Penang deputy chief minister II stands by his statements that the chairman of a Hindu temple did not fulfil pledges on agricultural land.
BATU KAWAN: A political aide to Deputy Chief Minister II P Ramasamy said today he was ready to face a suit by a Hindu temple chairman over an agricultural land controversy.
Ramasamy’s political affairs officer M Satees, 26, said he is prepared to be sued by Sri Maha Muthu Mariamman Kovil chairman A Nallakumar pertaining to “promises” made over the land.
Nallakumar, 49, secured the land in an open tender bid from the Penang Development Corporation (PDC) on a three-year lease in 2009 for agricultural activities.
“I don’t know on what grounds he plans to sue me. What I can say is that Nallakumar’s failure to fulfil his promises was morally wrong, although it was legally not wrong.
“He can file the suit. I will deal it in court,” Satees told FMT today.
On Saturday, Nallakumar filed a police report and threatened to sue Ramasamy and Satees for “failing” to fulfil verbal promises made pertaining to the agricultural land.
In his police report, Nallakumar claimed that Ramasamy and Satees had undermined his credibility by spreading lies in the press reports 10 days ago about non-existent promises.
Satees, however, insisted that Nallakumar had promised to contribute part of his income from agricultural activities on the 168-acre land to the temple.
Satees claimed that Nallakumar had made this promise to Ramasamy in a private meeting before he applied for the land bid to PDC.
During the meeting, Satees said Nallakumar also promised to provide job and business opportunities to local residents.
“But Nallakumar failed to fulfil any of his promises,” said Satees.
Satees claimed Nallakumar has rented out the land to an ethnic Chinese businessman and the PDC was now planning to take legal action against Nallakumar for breach of contract.
Nallakumar reneged on promises
He said Nallakumar had also told Ramasamy in the meeting that he would bid for the land under the temple’s name but later bid for the land under his own company.
He said when questioned by Ramasamy about the matter, Nallakumar had claimed that the temple was lacking funds to bid for the land.
Satees said Nallakumar had also claimed that several temple committee members have objected to the land bidding.
Nallakumar secured the land under his company name – Cakera Construction – for a three-year lease period from PDC, which ends nextyear.
Satees clarified that Nallakumar’s successful bid for the land in an open tender was not based on his promises to Ramasamy.
“The promises were not inserted as a clause in the land lease deal, neither were the promises a pre-condition to allow him to get the land on lease.
“It was an open tender exercise and he got the land on his own accord,” explained Satees.
Satees alleged three temple committee members once complained to Ramasamy about Nallakumar’s broken promises pertaining to the agricultural land.
Nallakumar, confirming that he would file legal suits against Ramasamy and Satees, called on the duo to show prove of any documented evidence that he had made those promises.
“I have never promised anything. Neither was there any clause stating that I must contribute to the temple,” said Nallakumar.
He said Ramasamy and Satees were merely spreading lies about him due to the current Batu Kawan Hindu cemetery controversy.
If wrongly handled, the cemetery controversy threatens to become another land fiasco ala Kampung Buah Pala, the flattened Tamil High Chaparral in Gelugor.
BATU KAWAN: A political aide to Deputy Chief Minister II P Ramasamy said today he was ready to face a suit by a Hindu temple chairman over an agricultural land controversy.Ramasamy’s political affairs officer M Satees, 26, said he is prepared to be sued by Sri Maha Muthu Mariamman Kovil chairman A Nallakumar pertaining to “promises” made over the land.
Nallakumar, 49, secured the land in an open tender bid from the Penang Development Corporation (PDC) on a three-year lease in 2009 for agricultural activities.
“I don’t know on what grounds he plans to sue me. What I can say is that Nallakumar’s failure to fulfil his promises was morally wrong, although it was legally not wrong.
“He can file the suit. I will deal it in court,” Satees told FMT today.
On Saturday, Nallakumar filed a police report and threatened to sue Ramasamy and Satees for “failing” to fulfil verbal promises made pertaining to the agricultural land.
In his police report, Nallakumar claimed that Ramasamy and Satees had undermined his credibility by spreading lies in the press reports 10 days ago about non-existent promises.
Satees, however, insisted that Nallakumar had promised to contribute part of his income from agricultural activities on the 168-acre land to the temple.
Satees claimed that Nallakumar had made this promise to Ramasamy in a private meeting before he applied for the land bid to PDC.
During the meeting, Satees said Nallakumar also promised to provide job and business opportunities to local residents.
“But Nallakumar failed to fulfil any of his promises,” said Satees.
Satees claimed Nallakumar has rented out the land to an ethnic Chinese businessman and the PDC was now planning to take legal action against Nallakumar for breach of contract.
Nallakumar reneged on promises
He said Nallakumar had also told Ramasamy in the meeting that he would bid for the land under the temple’s name but later bid for the land under his own company.He said when questioned by Ramasamy about the matter, Nallakumar had claimed that the temple was lacking funds to bid for the land.
Satees said Nallakumar had also claimed that several temple committee members have objected to the land bidding.
Nallakumar secured the land under his company name – Cakera Construction – for a three-year lease period from PDC, which ends nextyear.
Satees clarified that Nallakumar’s successful bid for the land in an open tender was not based on his promises to Ramasamy.
“The promises were not inserted as a clause in the land lease deal, neither were the promises a pre-condition to allow him to get the land on lease.
“It was an open tender exercise and he got the land on his own accord,” explained Satees.
Satees alleged three temple committee members once complained to Ramasamy about Nallakumar’s broken promises pertaining to the agricultural land.
Nallakumar, confirming that he would file legal suits against Ramasamy and Satees, called on the duo to show prove of any documented evidence that he had made those promises.
“I have never promised anything. Neither was there any clause stating that I must contribute to the temple,” said Nallakumar.
He said Ramasamy and Satees were merely spreading lies about him due to the current Batu Kawan Hindu cemetery controversy.
If wrongly handled, the cemetery controversy threatens to become another land fiasco ala Kampung Buah Pala, the flattened Tamil High Chaparral in Gelugor.
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