The demolition of the houses in Kampung Buah Pala has been postponed to Sept 1 following an impromptu negotiation.

NONE The decision was reached following an hour-long meeting between developer Numesto Sdn Bhd executive director Thomas Chan, the court bailiff, villagers and George Town police chief Azam Abd Hamid.

The negotiation took place in a mobile police beat parked near the village main entrance.

Kampung Buah Pala association assistant secretary C Tharmaraj later told Malaysiakini that the villagers have until Sept 1 to vacate the bitterly disputed land

He said the postponement was another reprieve for the beleaguered villagers of Kampung Buah Pala.

When Tharmaraj broke the news to the villagers, they breathed a sigh of relief.

Assurances sought

The court bailiff then handed over a handwritten document to Tharmaraj requesting the villagers to sign it.

NONE The document sought an assurance from the villagers that they would agree to move out from their respective homes by Sept 1.

The document also sought an assurance that demolition works will not be hindered once the new deadline expires.

Malaysian Makkal Sakti Party (MMSP) leaders RS Thanenthiran, MC Pitchay and A Vethamurthy have signed the documents as witnesses.

NONE It is learnt that Thanenthiran ( left ) was involved in the impromptu negotiation.

Meanwhile, Tharmaraj said the villagers would consult their legal adviser Darshan Singh Khaira before deciding whether or not to sign the document.

This morning’s planned demolition was thwarted when villagers formed a human barricade, preventing workers from entering the area.

The houses are to be torn down to pave the way for the construction of luxury condominiums.

Lawyer slams document

After speaking to the villagers for about an hour, Darshan told reporters that the villagers would not sign the document.

darshan singh kampung buah pala "It's like a hanging rope for the villagers. The document is legally seeking the villagers' own admission that the land is not theirs," he said.

Darshan has already lined up several cases to be filed on behalf of the villagers.

Among the cases were an application to caveat the land by the residents and an application for a stay of execution against demolition attempts by the developer and land owner.

Another application is to seek a court declaration that the state government shall allow the villagers to have legal representation in negotiations.

On Aug 18, the villagers' case for a review of the Federal Court decision on June 24 will be up for hearing.

Darshan also plans to file another application to review an earlier Court of Appeal decision on May 11 that ruled the villagers did not have locus standi to seek a full trial over the village land deals.