Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe by Email I got to hand it to the residents, they are really pushing every possible button in order to save their land. If state government not able to help, go to Federal. Even though PM Najib already said land matters are state issue, DPM Muhyiddin seem to indicate otherwise.
Not sure what he meant by “The deadline (for the residents to vacate the land) is Aug 31. We want to see how the state government can resolve the issue”. If after 31st August only want to do something, most probably they will only see a flattened land. The developer is itching to demolish the place, so I’m not sure where the DPM is leading the residents to. A false hope? Now the state can turn around and say since the Federal government seem to indicate can do something, we’ll just leave it to them. That’s the peril of jumping ship. Its like burning the bridge at both ends.
I’m sure the residents are aware their problem was caused by the same group from which they are asking for help now. When desperate, have to resort to desperate measures. Can’t blame them. Now, its up to Federal government to save them. How? Maybe federal government and coalition can make some deal with the coperative and/or the developer, bypassing the state government. Err..along the way, MIC need to be given some role to play as well.
So, its with (in)sincere feeling that the rep, Sugumaran pleads:
“…Now we realise that only the BN can really help the people,” said Sugumaran.
Kg Buah Pala issue may also impact the upcoming by-elections in Permatang Pasir, so each coalition needs to play its card properly. Will this be turned into a racial point? corruption point? administation weakness point? Which coalition can milk the most out of Kg Buah Pala sage to entice the 70% over Malay voters and minority Chinese and Indian voters?
The federal government has so far not intervened in the Kampung Buah Pala land ownership issue as it wants to see whether the Penang government is capable of resolving the issue.
Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said this to Kampung Buah Pala residents association chairperson M Sugumaran after receiving a memorandum on the issue from him.
“The deadline (for the residents to vacate the land) is Aug 31. We want to see how the state government can resolve the issue,” he said.
The seven-page memorandum was handed to Muhyiddin when he visited Permatang Pasir, near here, to look at the Barisan Nasional’s preparations for the upcoming by-election.
Sugumaran said in the memorandum, the association urged the federal government to intervene in the issue in order to save the traditional village and turn it into a planned village.
He said the residents were forced to ask for federal government intervention following the state government’s failure to keep its promise of helping the villagers if the opposition was given the mandate to govern the state.
“(Lim) Guan Eng (chief minister) cannot assist us. Now we realise that only the BN can really help the people,” said Sugumaran.
The Federal Court recently ordered the residents to vacate the 2.6ha village land belonging to Koperasi Pegawai Kerajaan Pulau Pinang (KPKPP), to make way for a housing project.
However, the Federal Court yesterday fixed Friday to hear a new application by the residents to set aside the Appeals Court’s decision made on May 11, that KPKPP is the rightful owner of the land. – Bernama
