DAP stalwart Lim Kit Siang today denied the allegation that his party cared more for pigs than the plight of humans.
He was responding to the allegation by Kampung Buah Pala residents in Penang who are sore with his son - Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng - with regards to the eviction orders slapped on them.
He also clarified that Kedah DAP's decision to quit the state Pakatan Rakyat coalition was not based solely on the demolishment of the pig abattoir.
"DAP felt many issues concerning the people of Kedah were not taken seriously by the state government.
“The abattoir issue is the straw that broke the camel's back... I think they (villagers) were just misinformed," he told a press conference at the party headquarters in Petaling Jaya.
As for the Kampung Buah Pala crisis, Lim said the 'High Chaparral' saga should have been resolved by the previous state government led by Gerakan president Koh Tsu Koon.
"Villagers are now being evicted and (this proves) the previous state government had breached the people's trust in alienating the land well below market price and without consulting the people.
"That is why I think the former chief minister now a federal minister must come out and explain in the open why it was done," he said.
Hefty price to pay
Lim also defended his son who has come under intense pressure over the issue.
Although he agreed that the crisis could be resolved by 'a stroke of the pen' as suggested by Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) leader P Uthayakumar, Lim however said this would cost the state government and the people a hefty price.
"The development project on the site has emerged and it costs RM150 million and approximately RM200 million for the whole area.
"If it involves the compensation of RM150 million, can the state government and the people afford it? There are 23 families affected by this," he said.
According to him, the only win-win solution is for Koh to act responsibly and raise this matter with the federal government.
"He then needs to ask for an allocation or a grant to the state government, an amount necessary to have a win-win solution," he said.
He was responding to the allegation by Kampung Buah Pala residents in Penang who are sore with his son - Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng - with regards to the eviction orders slapped on them.
He also clarified that Kedah DAP's decision to quit the state Pakatan Rakyat coalition was not based solely on the demolishment of the pig abattoir."DAP felt many issues concerning the people of Kedah were not taken seriously by the state government.
“The abattoir issue is the straw that broke the camel's back... I think they (villagers) were just misinformed," he told a press conference at the party headquarters in Petaling Jaya.
As for the Kampung Buah Pala crisis, Lim said the 'High Chaparral' saga should have been resolved by the previous state government led by Gerakan president Koh Tsu Koon.
"Villagers are now being evicted and (this proves) the previous state government had breached the people's trust in alienating the land well below market price and without consulting the people.
"That is why I think the former chief minister now a federal minister must come out and explain in the open why it was done," he said.
Hefty price to pay
Lim also defended his son who has come under intense pressure over the issue.
Although he agreed that the crisis could be resolved by 'a stroke of the pen' as suggested by Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) leader P Uthayakumar, Lim however said this would cost the state government and the people a hefty price."The development project on the site has emerged and it costs RM150 million and approximately RM200 million for the whole area.
"If it involves the compensation of RM150 million, can the state government and the people afford it? There are 23 families affected by this," he said.
According to him, the only win-win solution is for Koh to act responsibly and raise this matter with the federal government.
"He then needs to ask for an allocation or a grant to the state government, an amount necessary to have a win-win solution," he said.
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