Kg Buah Pala: Hindraf 'got it wrong'
Published: Jun 30, 2009 5:42 AM | Updated: Jun 30, 2009 12:43 PM
The Penang Pakatan Rakyat state government has never consented nor approved any demolition of Kampung Buah Pala, said Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.
The Penang Pakatan Rakyat state government has never consented nor approved any demolition of Kampung Buah Pala, said Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.
In fact, the chief minster said Kampung Buah Pala is still standing today because of the intervention of the state government.
In a press statement, Lim (left) regretted the unwarranted targeting of the state government by Hindraf leaders over the issue.
He said any action taken on the residents of Kampung Buah Pala was initiated by the private developer with a court order issued by the relevant courts.
Residents were offered up to RM200,000 per family by the developer which was accepted by some but rejected by many as they chose to remain in Kampung Buah Pala.
He said the state government respected the decision of those remaining in Kampung Buah Pala and fight the matter out in courts.
"If the state government had not intervened, then the developer would have evicted the residents in the middle of last year when they obtained a court order.
"Only the efforts of DCM2 Professor P Ramasamy and state exco Abdul Malek stopped the developer from entering the village with bulldozers several times last year," he said.
Tsu Koon must explain
"Koh Tsu Koon owes the public an answer as to why he sold the Kampung Buah Pala land at a cheap price of RM10 per square feet, and without consulting the residents," said Lim.
The Kampung Buah Pala land was approved to Koperasi Pegawai Kerajaan Pulau Pinang twice by the BN Penang state exco led by Koh on Aug 18, 2004 and June 8, 2005 with a premium of RM6.42 million or RM 20 per square feet.
"I can not understand neither the rationale of approving this project without consulting the residents nor selling it at such a low price," said Lim.
"Koh's exco reduced the premium further by 50% to RM3.21 million or only RM10 per square feet on the recommendation of the Umno deputy chief minister.
"Koh (right) must explain why he sold the land at only RM10 per square feet when the market price in 2007 was much more," he added.
"The state government has been doing its work and should not be unfairly victimised and targeted by Hindraf. It is the BN, Gerakan, MIC, Umno and MCA who are the main culprits for causing, abandoning and even selling out Kampung Buah Pala residents."
Rule of law must be respected
On Hindraf's demand that the government act against the court order obtained by the developer to evict the residents, Lim's reply was that Pakatan Rakyat governs under the rule of law and is compelled to respect any court order.
There have been suggestions that the state government forcibly acquire the land for public purpose under the Land Acquisition Act but Lim pointed out that doing so would play into the hands of the developer who would be able to reap enormous profits without putting in a single cent.
He questioned Hindraf for not demonstrating against Umno or Gerakan or MCA or even MIC who he said are the main culprits and perpetrators behind Kampung Buah Pala.
"Hindraf should realise what the Penang state government has done for the Indian community, temples and Tamil primary schools.
"Not only was the first Indian Deputy Chief Minister II of Penang appointed (P Ramasamy, right) but the 28 Tamil primary schools were given a yearly allocation of RM1.5 million along with other Chinese primary, Sekolah Agama Rakyat, missionary schools and Chinese independent secondary schools.
"Further Penang put up the first Tamil road signs in the country alongside Arabic, Chinese and English bilingual road signs in Georgetown.
"Most important of all, the Penang state government treats all Indians together with Chinese and Malays as Malaysian citizens, where a Chinese leader can look after Malays, a Malay leader can look after Chinese and an Indian leader can look after all citizens," said Lim.
Pakatan will not be cowed
He added that the DAP and the Pakatan Rakyat government will not back down or be cowed by BN, Umno or Hindraf.
"The DAP and the Penang Pakatan Rakyat government believes that the issues of Indians are not Indian problems, the issues of Chinese are not Chinese problems nor the issues of Malays not Malay problems but a Malaysian issue."
However, he said Hindraf leaders have the right to exercise the basic human rights of peaceful assembly by demonstrating no matter how unreasonable they are.
"I have instructed my officials to respect their rights and accept any memorandum submitted in line with non-violent principles of Mahatma Gandhi.
"I also urge the police not to take any action that would lead to an untoward situation," said Lim.
VIDEO l 8 mins
In fact, the chief minster said Kampung Buah Pala is still standing today because of the intervention of the state government.
In a press statement, Lim (left) regretted the unwarranted targeting of the state government by Hindraf leaders over the issue.
He said any action taken on the residents of Kampung Buah Pala was initiated by the private developer with a court order issued by the relevant courts.Residents were offered up to RM200,000 per family by the developer which was accepted by some but rejected by many as they chose to remain in Kampung Buah Pala.
He said the state government respected the decision of those remaining in Kampung Buah Pala and fight the matter out in courts.
"If the state government had not intervened, then the developer would have evicted the residents in the middle of last year when they obtained a court order.
"Only the efforts of DCM2 Professor P Ramasamy and state exco Abdul Malek stopped the developer from entering the village with bulldozers several times last year," he said.
Tsu Koon must explain
"Koh Tsu Koon owes the public an answer as to why he sold the Kampung Buah Pala land at a cheap price of RM10 per square feet, and without consulting the residents," said Lim.
The Kampung Buah Pala land was approved to Koperasi Pegawai Kerajaan Pulau Pinang twice by the BN Penang state exco led by Koh on Aug 18, 2004 and June 8, 2005 with a premium of RM6.42 million or RM 20 per square feet.
"I can not understand neither the rationale of approving this project without consulting the residents nor selling it at such a low price," said Lim. "Koh's exco reduced the premium further by 50% to RM3.21 million or only RM10 per square feet on the recommendation of the Umno deputy chief minister.
"Koh (right) must explain why he sold the land at only RM10 per square feet when the market price in 2007 was much more," he added."The state government has been doing its work and should not be unfairly victimised and targeted by Hindraf. It is the BN, Gerakan, MIC, Umno and MCA who are the main culprits for causing, abandoning and even selling out Kampung Buah Pala residents."
Rule of law must be respected
On Hindraf's demand that the government act against the court order obtained by the developer to evict the residents, Lim's reply was that Pakatan Rakyat governs under the rule of law and is compelled to respect any court order.
There have been suggestions that the state government forcibly acquire the land for public purpose under the Land Acquisition Act but Lim pointed out that doing so would play into the hands of the developer who would be able to reap enormous profits without putting in a single cent.
He questioned Hindraf for not demonstrating against Umno or Gerakan or MCA or even MIC who he said are the main culprits and perpetrators behind Kampung Buah Pala."Hindraf should realise what the Penang state government has done for the Indian community, temples and Tamil primary schools.
"Not only was the first Indian Deputy Chief Minister II of Penang appointed (P Ramasamy, right) but the 28 Tamil primary schools were given a yearly allocation of RM1.5 million along with other Chinese primary, Sekolah Agama Rakyat, missionary schools and Chinese independent secondary schools.
"Further Penang put up the first Tamil road signs in the country alongside Arabic, Chinese and English bilingual road signs in Georgetown.
"Most important of all, the Penang state government treats all Indians together with Chinese and Malays as Malaysian citizens, where a Chinese leader can look after Malays, a Malay leader can look after Chinese and an Indian leader can look after all citizens," said Lim.
Pakatan will not be cowed
He added that the DAP and the Pakatan Rakyat government will not back down or be cowed by BN, Umno or Hindraf.
"The DAP and the Penang Pakatan Rakyat government believes that the issues of Indians are not Indian problems, the issues of Chinese are not Chinese problems nor the issues of Malays not Malay problems but a Malaysian issue."
However, he said Hindraf leaders have the right to exercise the basic human rights of peaceful assembly by demonstrating no matter how unreasonable they are.
"I have instructed my officials to respect their rights and accept any memorandum submitted in line with non-violent principles of Mahatma Gandhi.
"I also urge the police not to take any action that would lead to an untoward situation," said Lim.
VIDEO l 8 mins
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