GEORGE TOWN (July 29, 2009): In what appears to be a last ditch effort at a compromise over the Kampung Buah Pala controversy, the Penang government has called for a meeting with the villagers this Saturday (Aug 1) to discuss a new proposal from the developer.
Deputy Chief Minister (II) Prof Dr P Ramasamy said today Nusmetro was considering offering each family a double-storey terrace house adjacent to its project. Nusmetro representatives held a meeting with the Penang Island Municipal Council (MPPP) on Tuesday to iron out details of the new plan and make revisions to its original development project.
Ramasamy said if the residents accept the new proposal, the eviction deadline could be pushed. "If it gets resolved, we are in a position to give the residents more time," he said.
The state had already directed the MPPP to revoke the development approval issued to Nusmetro.
Ramasamy also questioned MIC president Samy Vellu’s statement that the party was willing to pay the state RM3.2 million to buy the land on behalf of the villagers.
He said the estimated value of the land was RM150 million, far more than the amount MIC was willing to dish out. He pointed out that the land transfer to the Koperasi Pegawai-Pegawai Kerajaan Pulau Pinang had been approved by the previous administration.
"We don’t own the land," he said. "Contact the Koperasi and ask to buy the land from them."
Meanwhile, Penang Gerakan Youth urged the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to investigate the alienation process of the 2.6ha Kampung Buah Pala land.
"The primary concern and condition attached to the land alienation process by the previous government was that the needs and welfare of the affected residents must be catered to," said the wing’s vice-chairman H’ng Khoon Leng.
He said this condition was not fulfilled satisfactorily when the land title was issued under the current state government on March 27, 2008.
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