Lim ticks off Kg Buah Pala developer
Yip Ai TsinPublished: Jul 2, 2009 6:58 AM | Updated: Jul 2, 2009 9:37 AM
In an attempt to soothe the frayed nerves of Kampung Buah Pala residents, Penang Chief Minister Lim Lim Guan Eng came to their defence when he ticked off project developer Nusmetro Ventures (P) Sdn Bhd for threatening them.
In an attempt to soothe the frayed nerves of Kampung Buah Pala residents, Penang Chief Minister Lim Lim Guan Eng came to their defence when he ticked off project developer Nusmetro Ventures (P) Sdn Bhd for threatening them.
"It is highly inflammtory and irresponsible," said Lim, at the developer's threat to forcefully evict residents and demolish their houses by sending in bulldozers when the deadline for them to move out expires on Aug 2.
"It is highly improper to stoke fear into the villagers’ hearts by reminding them that they will have to move out by Aug 2 when the one-month grace period given by the developer expires," he said.
On Tuesday, Lim, speaking after a long and conspicuous silence on the controversy surrounding Kampung Buah Pala, explained that the state government had intervened to prevent the eviction of the residents in the middle of last year.
He said the residents were offered up to RM200,000 per family by the developer which some chose to accept while other rejected it and remained in Kampung Buah Pala.
Lim said the government will not accept the latest offer of a "goodwill payment" proposed by the developer unless the residents agree to the compensation.
Go for a win-win situation
In a press statement today, Lim provided additional details.
He said residents had flatly refused to accept the developer's compensation of RM140,000 to RM260,000, as well as RM330,000 and a five-year rent-free deal for land in Balik Pulau for one of the two cattle ranchers.
Lim urged the developers to aim for a "win-win situation" for all parties instead of using the federal court order to solve the matter.
“The state government has nothing to do with the eviction or the federal court order and the bringing in of bulldozers to demolish the houses,” said Lim.
Yesterday, Kampung Buah Pala residents called on Lim to resign as chief minister for failing to preserve and gazette the settlement as a traditional Tamil Hindu village as promised in the run up to the general election.
'Lim reneged on his promise'
"He is a big liar and always makes contradicting statements. He doesn't know anything about Penang because he is from Malacca,” said C Tharmaraj, Kampung Buah Pala residents association assistant secretary.
"The promise he made during the last general election to return our rights on the land was never fulfilled. I think it's better if he resigns," he said.
Meanwhile, Thomas Chan, the director of Nusmetro Ventures (P) Sdn Bhd, told Bernama yesterday that the company had suffered a loss of RM6 million due to the postponement of the project which should have kicked off early last year.
"It is highly inflammtory and irresponsible," said Lim, at the developer's threat to forcefully evict residents and demolish their houses by sending in bulldozers when the deadline for them to move out expires on Aug 2."It is highly improper to stoke fear into the villagers’ hearts by reminding them that they will have to move out by Aug 2 when the one-month grace period given by the developer expires," he said.
On Tuesday, Lim, speaking after a long and conspicuous silence on the controversy surrounding Kampung Buah Pala, explained that the state government had intervened to prevent the eviction of the residents in the middle of last year.
He said the residents were offered up to RM200,000 per family by the developer which some chose to accept while other rejected it and remained in Kampung Buah Pala.
Lim said the government will not accept the latest offer of a "goodwill payment" proposed by the developer unless the residents agree to the compensation.
Go for a win-win situation
In a press statement today, Lim provided additional details.
He said residents had flatly refused to accept the developer's compensation of RM140,000 to RM260,000, as well as RM330,000 and a five-year rent-free deal for land in Balik Pulau for one of the two cattle ranchers.Lim urged the developers to aim for a "win-win situation" for all parties instead of using the federal court order to solve the matter.
“The state government has nothing to do with the eviction or the federal court order and the bringing in of bulldozers to demolish the houses,” said Lim.
Yesterday, Kampung Buah Pala residents called on Lim to resign as chief minister for failing to preserve and gazette the settlement as a traditional Tamil Hindu village as promised in the run up to the general election.
'Lim reneged on his promise'
"He is a big liar and always makes contradicting statements. He doesn't know anything about Penang because he is from Malacca,” said C Tharmaraj, Kampung Buah Pala residents association assistant secretary.
"The promise he made during the last general election to return our rights on the land was never fulfilled. I think it's better if he resigns," he said.Meanwhile, Thomas Chan, the director of Nusmetro Ventures (P) Sdn Bhd, told Bernama yesterday that the company had suffered a loss of RM6 million due to the postponement of the project which should have kicked off early last year.
View Comments0