Malayur News

The Sun
by Himanshu Bhatt

PENANG (July 27, 2009): The Kampung Buah Pala issue may finally find a resolution - the developer of the condominium project on the disputed land is considering a state government proposal to allocate an adjacent plot for the villagers there who are facing eviction.

Penang Deputy Chief Minister (II) Prof Dr P Ramasamy said today, the state government had met up with developer Nusmetro Ventures (P) Sdn Bhd, to discuss this latest proposal as a solution to the villagers' plight.

He said the new settlement for the villagers would consist of a double-storey terrace house for each of the 24 households.

He also stressed that upon receiving feedback from Nusmetro, the state would revert to the villagers first before pursuing the matter further.

It is understood that Nusmetro is now engaged in technical consultations to assess the proposal.

Ramasamy said the state could also take into account the heritage characteristics of the 100-year-old community in developing the new settlement while also getting a space to house the villagers' cattle.

The meeting on Saturday with the developer was attended by Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, Ramasamy and state executive councillor Abdul Malik Kassim.

Meanwhile, the chief minister took to task MIC leaders for using the Penang government and the Kampung Buah Pala issue for personal leverage as the party’s elections approach in September.

At a press conference at his office today, Lim expressed apprehension at having the state dragged into the MIC’s internal politics.

MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu had announced at the Penang MIC’s 63rd Convention meeting on Sunday that he had called Lim and was willing to meet with him in an effort to sort out the Kampung Buah Pala problem.

Lim, however, said Samy Vellu had spoken to him on Sunday morning but that it was an "unusual conversation" as the former works minister had used the mobile phone of a journalist.

"He did not call me using his phone. I got a call from a reporter who suddenly said that Samy Vellu wanted to talk to me," Lim said.

He said Samy Vellu did not seem to be aware of Kampung Buah Pala's status and legal position as he had asked about filing an appeal with the courts, when in fact the Court of Appeal had already rejected the residents’ application.

"I was surprised that this conversation was then used by him in the MIC state assembly," the chief minister said.

"I do not want to be used or dragged into MIC’s internal politics."

On a claim by MIC youth chief T. Mohan that the party could provide RM3.2 million to help the state acquire the land, Lim said the sum was not workable as the current owner and developer would ask for a much higher sum.

The prime land was sold at a discounted rate of about RM10 per sq ft, amounting to RM3.2 million, to Koperasi Pegawai Kerajaan Negeri Pulau Pinang, by the previous Barisan Nasional state administration in 2007.

The cooperative then entered into an agreement with developer Nusmetro Venture to build a condominium on the site.

The MIC waded into the Kampung Buah Pala controversy last week and helped to organise a protest march against the state on Thursday, resulting in the detention of 10 people including Mohan for illegal assembly.

Lim had announced over the weekend that the Penang government was revoking approval for the project based on its powers under the Town and Country Planning Act 1976.

The decision was made ahead of an Aug 2 deadline set by Nusmetro for the eviction of Kampung Buah Pala residents following the service of a writ of possession on July 2.