Athi Veeranggan |
While the state government did not give a specific price tag for the acquisition, the figure is based on an estimated value for the plot of the land which the village is sitting on.
Ng Wei Aik (right), the political secretary to Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, said: "To acquire Kampung Buah Pala land would involve a lot of money, and we would need federal funding.”Ng, also the Komtar assemblyperson, said this after receiving an appeal letter from Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf).
The land is owned by Koperasi Pegawai Kanan Kerajaan Pulau Pinang.
Hindraf's letter was handed over by its youngest activist, seven-year-old Vwaishhnnavi, the daughter of chairperson P Waythamoorthy.Vwaishhnnavi was accompanied by her mother K Shanti and some 50 Hindraf activists and villagers.
In an immediate response, however, Waythamoorthy rubbished Ng's claim, saying the state government would in no way be affected financially by a land acquisition exercise.
He slammed Lim for trying to “hoodwink the people” by citing finance as an excuse, just so he could shirk his responsibilities as chief minister, instead of using powers accorded to the chief minister by land laws.
He claimed that Lim can acquire the land for the public interest at a sum far below the market price.
Under Section 58 of the Land Acquisition Act, the state government is required to give reasonable compensation to the affected party or parties during any such exercise.
“This is stated clearly under Schedule 1 of the Act,” said Waythamoorthy, adding that the same provision allows the state government to make periodic payments to settle the sum.He also said the state government need not fear civil action by any developer because Section 68 of the same Act clearly states that 'no party can bring any suit against government in regard to the compensated sum'.
The affected party is, however, allowed to lodge a complaint to the land administrator, which is empowered to bring up the issue in court for a review.
“Even then the state government has overwhelming power over the matter. Lim is giving us a false impression,” said Waythamoorthy, who is living in London in self-imposed exile.
The federal government banned Hindraf last October.
Waythamoorthy chided the state government for trying to inject 'superficial optimism' that its investigation team would resolve all problems pertaining to the villagers' predicament.
The team is headed by Deputy Chief Minister (DCM)1 Mansor Othman, DCM 2 P Ramasamy, state legislators RSN Rayer and VS Raveentharan, and senior counsel CV Prabhakaran.
Expressing dissatisfaction with the composition, Waythamoorthy said the commmitte should also include “independent persons of high public esteem”, and not merely DAP legislators.
“After all, only a few days ago, the villagers had demanded Rayer's resignation as their elected representative,” he said.
'Correct BN wrongdoing'
In its appeal letter, Hindraf called on the chief minister to exercise his executive powers under the National Land Code, read together with Land Acquisition Act, to acquire the land for the people of Kampung Buah Pala.
Shanti slammed the state government for its incompetence in handling the matter, and chided the chief minister for not being around to receive the letter.
Ng, however, assured Hindraf that the state government has assigned top priority to the issue.
Responding to a statement issued by Lim today, Waythamoorthy pointed out that the chief minister must be prepared to shoulder the burden of liabilities and wrongdoing by the previous administration, since he has also inherited its assets.“Hindraf is not blaming Lim as the cause of the Kampung Buah Pala controversy. Hindraf is fighting this case on (grounds of) social justice and natural justice, not due to communal sentiments,” he added.
“We want the current chief minister to correct the wrongs done by the Barisan Nasional government."
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