PENANG, July 4 — The Penang government said today it will be too costly for it to acquire the land in Kampung Buah Pala from a cooperative and a developer to enable the 23 squatter families facing eviction to continue to live there.
Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said he sympathised with the villagers but the cost of the land was high as it was freehold and had been approved for development.
The Federal Court had ruled that the land belonged to the Penang Government Officers Cooperative and developer Nusmetro Ventures (P) Sdn Bhd and that the villagers had to vacate it.
Lim, caught between the demands of the villagers and the court ruling, had asked the federal government to acquire the land from the cooperative and the developer.
Speaking to reporters after opening the Penang International Halal Hub task force meeting here, he said the Federal Court ruling had to be adhered to although the villagers had lived there for a long time.
He said that despite the court ruling, the state government had succeeded in getting a month-long extension for the villagers to move out.
Besides asking the federal government to acquire the land, Lim also advised the developer to pay the agreed compensation of RM200,000 to each of the families facing eviction and called on the families to accept the payment.
When told that the developer did not want to pay the compensation and the villagers did not want to move out, he said the state government would issue a directive to stop the developer from starting work at the site but added that this would incur financial cost to the state government.
"What else can the state government do? Like the Kampung Buah Pala villagers, the state government is also a victim in the case because it was not us who started the issue. Therefore, do not blame the state government," he said.
Lim said he was not avoiding a meeting with the villagers but the work of a group of opportunists had worsened the situation.
"I regret that a small group of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) members had attempted to become heroes and worsened the situation when (Deputy Chief Minister I) Mansor Othman tried to resolve the problem.
"I am prepared to meet the villagers but not the opportunists. I have no qualms about meeting the villagers but my two deputies (deputy chief ministers I and II) have done an excellent job of that," he said. — Bernama

written by jamesloh, July 04, 2009
written by kajang ah fook, July 04, 2009
written by TaBolehTahanLagi, July 04, 2009
written by Holand , July 04, 2009
The Chapati folks should take the rm200k !
written by Ww, July 04, 2009
Now i am clear about this whole issue, the land infact do belong to the coperative from beginning, which means the villagers are not land owner. how can non-landowner defy the move? Please respect the right of ownership.
Instead of quarreling on thing doesnt belong to them, they should take up the compensation fee, or get a negotiated deal for a unit in the new development, state government given extension to moving out. what else can these people ask for more????
please be sensible and not be over-asking.
and no political play again please.
I see the DPMs handling this issues just fine. you dont need a whole army of EXCO handling a territory within a state. 2 DPMs is already an excess of government resources.
written by Elvis Is Here, July 04, 2009
The previous government mistake,plus the free advertisement by the BN media,plus the opportunistic=bad picture of LGE and the Penang state government.
written by bagus, July 04, 2009
written by Leong Yook Kong, July 04, 2009
written by norizan, July 04, 2009
“Siapa saja yang telah mengelola sebidang tanah, yang bukan menjadi hak orang lain, maka dialah yang lebih berhak.” (HR. Imam Bukhari dari Aisyah)
“Siapa saja yang telah memagari sebiidang tanah dengan pagar, maka tanah itu adalah miliknya.” (HR. Abu Daud)
“Siapa saja yang telah menghidupkan sebidang tanah mati maka tanah itu adalah miliknya.” (HR. Imam Bukhari)
Malangnya mengikut sistem kapitalis, pengusaha tanah hanyalah buruh sahaja kepada tanah itu sehinggalah tanah itu nampak lebih memberi untung kepada pemerintah, maka ianya akan diambil kembali. Ini sangat tidak adil kerana ia mendera perasaan orang yang berhak ke atas tanah itu iaitu pihak yang mula-mula memakmurkannya.
written by qamalhamzah, July 04, 2009
The villagers have no reason not to accept the compensation..200k...just imagine how long you need to work to earn those money..especially you are just a squatter afterall....no Federal law will protect you...
written by ng, July 04, 2009
tink it's just opportunistic ppl trying to milk $ from govt&developer...dont turn it into racial prob
dun tink mic will pay 100+million to settle the long standing maica issues which involved much more than 30+ ppl. indraf goodwill diminishing on petty issue. penang govt can use the money for much better purpose than this silly issue
written by devillaine, July 04, 2009
only dumbed head like think this way.
Guess u must be a follower of OTK and KTK as well. Congrats, coz both of them are the bigger heartless morons than LGE.
Being from Melaka is not the problem, being ignorant and still blame others, they are called dumbed ass, got it? U are well qualified for that and you are insulting the intelligence of penangites.
Get lost man.
written by Ivan LKC, July 04, 2009
written by Superman, July 04, 2009
Why don't you and the Hindraf try to raise money to buy the land from the developer? It is easy to blame others isn't it but when come to getting yourself to solve the problem, I bet you will say different thing.
Though they have been staying there for years, they are still not the land owners. Now what about many Indonesians and Philippinos who have been occupying our land illegally for many years. Are you saying the government should pay them to move out or give the land to them?
Please look at the issue objectively, and not try to be heroes if you are only good at making accusations.
written by najisb, July 04, 2009
He can afford to pay 450 million to buy Newcastle's club.. isn't he an Indian?
written by vin n, July 04, 2009
@ superman
with your logic even the perak chinese kampungs that were recently given to the villages would have been demolished. Youre just an emotional supporter and probably a borderline racist, just because you see you hero (lge) getting a whacking your coming out to show support despite the home and the livelihood of these people being demolished.
you superman should be ashamed of yourself and you ridiculous suggestion above directed towards raj and which shows your emotional attachement to the subject.
written by kartun merah, July 04, 2009
written by It's OK, July 04, 2009
I grew up in a rented house under the old colonial "rent control act" in the heart of Georgetown. When the Act was annulled some years ago, thousands throughout Penang ( mostly Chinese) lost their homes .. unable to pay the market price rentals which increased by 10-15 folds overnight. They and the generation before them have stayed there, some families for about a hundred years....mind you, not foc but paying rentals and occupying the properties legally. Not a single cent was paid as compensation. But the law is the law and new laws are necessary for present day development and progress. There were complaints and sad stories but soon people went on with their lives.
When hindraf first emerged, I had some empathy for their cause but with this, all is gone. They are nothing more than a bunch of gangsters with no regards for the rule of law.
To the squatters, life is tough not for you alone. Get on with it. You are a squatter...you really have NO RIGHTS to the property, all these years, you are actually illegally and freely occupying something that does'nt belong to you....that is the cruel truth. The compensation is given out of compassion...take it and do something useful with it. Asking the state govt. to buy the land with taxpayers money so that you can have the land is ridiculous. What's next...free cars, food and petrol because you can't afford them???? Tell that to the thousands who lost their homes due the the annullment of the rent control act.
written by Right2Choose, July 04, 2009
written by Bulim Tohkit, July 04, 2009
Media mogul Ananda Krishnan is closing in on a deal to end Mike Ashley's nightmare two-year Toon reign - and hopes to make an announcement early next week.
The £95million deal for the club represents loose change to the 71-year-old, who is South East Asia's third-richest man worth £4.5billion. "
Maybe, Hindraf can ask Ananda Krishnan to give them some money?
written by Eskay, July 04, 2009
written by penag kia, July 04, 2009
this also is not the first case, there are many other cases also but not highlighted or sensationalised and compensation is only low cost apartment unit . please think and dont depend solely on state gov. and bark on the wrong tree.
written by ACR, July 04, 2009
Kampung Buah Pala was held in trust by the BN Federal Government for the benefit of the familes there. Oddly, the State Government had subsequently classified the land as TOL.
In 2005, the government of Koh Tsu Koon sold the entire village to Koperasi Pegawai Kerajaan PP for RM11.47 psf. The Koperasi paid a total of RM3.21 million to the State Government. This cannot be the real value of the land.
Questions:
1. The land was gifted by David Brown to the families some 200 years ago. It was held in trust by the Federal Govt for the benefit of the families who were beneficiaries. With what authority did KTK's govt change the land classification to TOL?
2. The Federal Govt, as trustee of the land, did not perform its duty responsibly. How did it allow the State Govt to change the classification to TOL without the consent of the beneficiaries i.e. the families?
3. Was the RM3.21 million paid by the Koperasi to the State Govt a fair value for the area the size of 6.4 acres?
Perhaps the present State Govt or groups representing the families there should initiate legal action against the previous State Govt and the Federal Govt. Ask the court for a stop-work order first before the tractors move in.
The minutes of the previous State Govt meetings on this issue where they had decided to change the land classification to TOL and to sell the land to the Koperasi could be extracted.
In the suit, name each of the previous State Excos who deliberated on this in their personal capacity. Lodge a report with our famous MACC on the sale of the land to the Koperasi.
written by Bob, July 04, 2009
The land they lived for free is worth at least RM500K and above. So please understand they are being screwed, royally.
written by Bob, July 04, 2009
The land they lived for free is worth at least RM500K and above. So please understand they are being screwed, royally.
It's OK, ur parents rented the shops at cheap prices, upto RM100 a month. These people were given the houses and land to stay until they died. There is no similarity with your example.
ACR, u cannot suit EXCO. Pity, it would be great if we can find a methodology to make these people pay.
written by ACR, July 04, 2009
I share your sentiments - at least someone understands the predicament of the Kampung Buah Pala residents :)
If I am not mistaken, ministers and government officials can be sued in their personal capacity for having taken unlawful actions. There are some case laws within the Commonwealth (especially UK) on this. It is a tortious 'crime'.
Perhaps Uthayakumar may want to explore this :)
written by scrutinizer, July 04, 2009
written by Penang Resident, July 04, 2009
Shame on him !!!
written by Mathavan Velayutham, July 05, 2009
i think u talk like a stupit. people voted u in to undo all KTK's mistakes. if u cannot do then
you resign and give KTK the power so that he can correct all his wrong dids.
written by aiyo, July 05, 2009
If state government gives money to buy over the land at WHATEVER COST what about the other penangites? Is it fair to them? There is an oppurtunity cost here. And anyway, the Penang government should be responsible to all penangites and not only to those families who are to be displaced. LGE has since coming into power, immediately hightlighted the scam and even have a public debate with the good for nothing balls carrier KSK. One lawyer has gone on record that the villagers themselves may have taken the wrong course of legal action.
But what is glaringly missing is the accusers did not blame -
a. the BN bastards who played them out and just want to shift it to the present govt on the
argument that you are the govt now, you right the wrong.
b. the courts that affirmed the ownership of the cooperative and the developer (maybe they realised
there is nothing to blame as the Court has to do what was presented to them)
c. the silence so far of the BN bastards who started all this
d. and most of all their ownselves for having not taken steps in the first place to ensure
the protection of their rights.
You all have been fooled, raped and tortured and yet, sadly, still can see it. Sad, so sad.
written by Mohd, July 05, 2009
Actually The Star, NST, Berita Harian, Utusan are more like gangster papers spreading lies and portraying that Lim Guan Eng and the current PR led state government caused the problem.
Let's not forget this Kampung Buah Pala is just another piece of shit left behind by the previous state government which BN now tries to smear on Guan Eng. Don't these papers have other news to reports than toilet paper news that they are wiping shit on? We should all just stop buying these papers and fund their shit'ty business!
written by Charles F Moreira, July 05, 2009
The Pakatan Rakyat was voted in as the Penang government and like it or not it too inherited the assets and liabilities of the State of Penang and the responsibility to deal with it.
So OK! If the land is too expensive, then give the squatters another suitable piece of land of the same size in Penang for them to rebuild their "High Chapparal" and their livelihoods as that would be redress for injustices committed by the State of Penang under the previous Barisan Nasional government and insist that the villagers receive adequate compensation as well.
Hopefully, under a future Pakatan Rakyat federal and state government, the laws will be changed to enable a state of federal government to commandeer the land without it having to pay any compensation.
I see in many comments here a not so subtle racism towards the Indians which tells me that whether one is a Barisan Nasional or Pakatan Rakyat supporter, it makes no difference in one's backward attitude.
written by nkkhoo, July 05, 2009
http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/107838 (In mandarin)
Be fair to LGE. I understand the actual land transfer by Jabatan Tanah was done two weeks after 318 GE. I believe PR excecutives and LGE unawared about this land transfer.
But IF now he got executive power and legal basis to bulldoze this unlawful land deal, but he is not willing to act. He should resign from CM post. There are many capable DAP ADUNs in the list to replace him.
written by nkkhoo, July 05, 2009
His DCM said state government did not conduct investigation because the villagers have sued the koperasi and developer.
Land fraud investigation is nothing to do with the lawsuits. These are two separate issues and no comtempt of court for conducting investigation on any dubious land transactions.
written by JaguhKampung, July 05, 2009
What was the market value of land around there in 2005 when the state government then (KTK's government) sold it for RM11.45psf?
written by voters, July 05, 2009
written by voters, July 05, 2009
LGE /PAKATAN had highligtted many times on land issues managed under BN...
The case in Pala had gone to Federal Court... that means that :
- curent CM or anyone cannot simply interfere...
- this case was since BN time..
written by MaryFung, July 05, 2009
If Lim Guan Eng wanna buy back the land using tax payer's money, then LGE should ask the taxpayers first whether this is fair to the tax payer as all tax payer have to use their own money to buy for their own land.
Hindraf should also pressure KTK & Gerakan to come out and give a statement as to why they sell the land and sold it for so cheap if hindraf feel that the land belong to the village. Remember that they may not be the state government of the day but they are part of federal government, yet hindraf allow them to close eye.
written by BrightEyes, July 05, 2009
I've been to Buah Pala/High Chaparral, and the cattle ranch is surrounded by houses built in the 1950s-1970s. True, it was a rural area 60 years ago, but development has caught up. There is little expansion space or grazing land for the cows. A less developed area would allow the ranchers to expand their business... if they wish to.
written by nkkhoo, July 05, 2009
Check the background of the developer. Are they connected in someway to the previous government cronies to be able to buy the land way below market value?
What was the market value of land around there in 2005 when the state government then (KTK's government) sold it for RM11.45psf?
====
LGE is purposely to misled rakyat for his inaction by telling story of RM 150 million to scare off brainless people.
IF state government can prove to court that land deal was done illegal by Koh Tsu Koon. Why state government has to compensate koperasi at maket value for commercial land IF the land cannot be used for commercial and housing project in the first place.
written by AnakPP, July 05, 2009
written by Bob, July 05, 2009
The land they lived for free is worth at least RM500K and above. So please understand they are being screwed, royally.
It's OK, ur parents rented the shops at cheap prices, upto RM100 a month. These people were given the houses and land to stay until they died. There is no similarity with your example.
ACR, u cannot suit EXCO. Pity, it would be great if we can find a methodology to make these people pay.
written by nkkhoo, July 05, 2009
this is executive decision made with courage . the existing squatters get rm200, 000 n no less then 50 years rent free...rm200, 000 cash is no small money time like this.
====
I evict you out from your house and land in Georgetown and pay you RM200,000. How many landlords in Georgetown want to take my offer?
What on earth residents with 5 generations staying on a same plot of land suddently they are called squatter?
LGE said kg buah pala is all people issue, that is absolutely BS. Many chinese chauvinists will condemn LGE to hell IF kg buah pala is Chinese clan village.
written by nkkhoo, July 05, 2009
written by AnakPP, July 05, 2009
The villagers have been staying there for decades but have made no effort to acquire legal right to be permanent tenants or rent paying tenants. They also made no effort to stop the former government from selling the land to the developer. Now the the court order comes to evict them and they demand the Penang Government to buy the land for them to stay on. That is utterly absurd. How can huge sum of Penangites' tax money be used to for 20 over families who are not really poor. They own herds of cows and are better off than a lot of poor Penang folks who are struggling from day to day.
===
Another typical argument with a bunch of fallacy.
1. Do you believe any trustee let you stay in a plot a land for 150 years without rental?
2. If a trustee decided to waive rental for poor people, the villagers shall NOT be held for default of payment?
These below injustice which need to be addressed by LGE under the CAT principle.
- Title ownerhsip transfer from trustee to state government is legal?
- Why TOL was issued?
- Did cancellation of TOL before land sale to koperasi is legal?
LGE please answer these questions if you commit to CAT.
written by nkkhoo, July 05, 2009
Part 1: The legality of title transfer from trustee to state government, conversion to TOL and cancellation of TOL.
Part 2: Land sale from state government to Koperasi.
I am a loyar buruk, but i can tell you LGE is trying to jumble part 1 and part 2 as one single part by using court order in part 2 as his excuse for inaction to investigare part 1.
Hindraf people and villagers are not asking LGE against court order in part 2. They are asking LGE to investigate part 1 carefully and revoke the land deal IF part 1 was done illegally.
I agree koperasi got the legal right to sue state government and how much compensation is debatable.
I ask LGE again, seeking justice for people or at risk of being sue is more important to him and PR government?
Rakyat wants JUSTICE, and rakyats know any compensation for part 2 is entirely the fault of Koh Tsu Koon.
LGE inaction in part 1 is indirectly a cover-up for Koh Tsu Koon.
In part 2, koperasi bought the land from state government is absolutely legal regardless the legality of part 1. Villager lost the lawsuit is not a surprise to me because they are suing wrong party.
written by nkkhoo, July 05, 2009
LGE may be sued for whatever action he is taken, so he shall choose a politically correct solution for him and PR survival.
written by Awakening, July 05, 2009
"Guan Eng had also lied that the people was offered compensation of RM200,000 and that many had accepted the offer and moved.But in actual fact they were offered RM90,000 by developers far below market value and which is insuffient for them to buy a new property in any part of Penang and the actual number of houseowners who accepted the shortchanged deal were 7 and not many as claimed by Guan Eng ( 5 Malay families and 2 Indian families). As far as i am concerned he is a heartless man for lying and colluding with the developers in uprooting these people with a peanut offer of RM90,000. The villagers had clearly stated that it is not an issue of compensation but a matter of preserving their peaceful existence in their hereditary cultural living over a safe roof. The basic need of a safe roof is a fundamental Human Right. "
I think it is pointless to blame again and again the previous govt. KTK and gang had definitely done a lousy job that's why LGE is in power! If LGE finds it difficult to resolve the problem now he should quit because no new govt in the world would inherit a perfect govt. Stop dreaming LGE and gang.
Many of his supporters have conveniently forgotten that while it is true that KTK's govt sold the land under "dubious conditions" according to LGE, but it is also true that it was LGE who signed the final deal and handed the land to the developer, that made the Federal Court no choice but to concede to the developer!
LGE, you can fool all the people some of the time but you can't fool all the people all the time.
You mess up this Kg Buah Pala issue because of your dire desire to be a POPULIST (support Kg Buah Pala residents before elections) and your ARROGANCE (after becoming the CM).
I predict that your POPULIST policies and ARROGANCE will bring you down one day!
written by nkkhoo, July 05, 2009
====
I condemn LGE for his inaction but also do not agree with false accusation from fanatic like you.
Show your evidence that LGE was the one signed the final deal. The deal was done before 318 GE by KTK and UMNO gang quickly transferred the land to koperasi 2 or 3 weeks after 318 election.
Land transfer process in Jabatan Tanah took several months, meaning the paperworks were submitted long before 318 election.
written by x-B.end, July 05, 2009
Good Job, nkkhoo for covering the Gerakan. You master will reward u handsomely.
I CONDEMN Koh TK for wat a rubbish CM & corrupt one. Reject by rakyat but join in backdoor.
So to u , its wise for LGE to acquire back the land...so in future there's more similar case, LGE has to accomodate to such demand. LGE better start saving now.
However, if States decided to acquire the land....majority Pgnites will will grow hatred to LGE for wasting state resources to please 30 villagers.
So LGE ...to please minority or the Rakyat Pg? BTW, court order states to pay compensation of Millions on the quarry deal , remember.
written by Din, July 05, 2009




