Compensation package - Kg Buah Pala

Guan Eng, why not compensate Kg Buah Pala villagers too ?

It has been said that the developers are no longer paying the villagers a single cent. And CM Lim Guan Eng recently warned the developers that they must still proceed to compensate the villagers.

Some people in another blog slammed me for saying that the developers are compensating the villagers and that they are worthy of some credit. It seems that CM Lim is also saying the same thing !

We now must decide whether

• that place is a heritage of our country
• that place is a probable tourist attraction place
• that 6 acres piece of land is best kept as it is or bulldozed for development (the banes and boons from the lenses of economic theory)
  

Development must proceed, just like how plantation owners and other Malay and Chinese villages had to make way for development of the country to house more people and to elevate the area's economic status.

I believe Singapore went through such a testing phase politically, socially and economically before in their tiny island.

No hard feelings to the villages of Kg Bala and I apologize if I am wrong and fail to understand your sensitivities.

I am here to provide solutions to the deadlock based on the options left for us to consider, on top of what DAP Penang leaders have suggested.

Now if we recall, the average compensation offered by the developer is about RM 200,000. Cattle owners were offered RM 330,000 together with a 5 year rent free piece of land in Balik Pulau.

The State Government also received RM 3.21 million for the sale of the land to Koperasi Pegawai Kerajaan Pulau Pinang back in 2007.

Given that it is now 2009, assuming 2 years interest earned at 3% p.a., the RM 3.21 million is worth approximately RM 3.405 million today.

There are reportedly 23 families in Kg Buah Pala now. (figure was initially quoted by media previously as 45 families but Lim said only 23 families)

I am sure the State Government can afford to disburse the RM 3.405 million to the families of Kg Buah Pala on top of the State ordered compensation by Nusmetro Ventures.

This will average out to about RM 148,000 for each family. In total, the families will receive on average RM 348,000 in cash.

Perhaps the State Government will be kind enough to draft out a housing loan, subsidy or proper housing allocation to the families affected.

This development project in Penang will see a housing project comprising

• 740 units of low and medium cost homes,
  
• 8 shoplots,
  
• 1 community hall,
• 1 kindergarten.

Perhaps NVSB, Penang Development Corporation and Penang State Government can work something out to house the 45 families among the 740 units too ?

Or will the State Government continue to blame the previous administration and pass the buck to other parties to solve the current State problems ?

Doing this is not helpful either.

High Chaparral 'rep' abandons her own PC
The Kampung Buah Pala crisis today took a strange twist when a high ranking PKR official apparently 'coerced' one of the villagers to praise the state government's handling of the affair.


One can only wonder what other amazing feat PKR Penang can achieve besides this guided Press Conference, the Aminah Tape and the abuse of power as exposed by Jeff Ooi.

DAP - Dramatically Active Party

PENANG DAP

We must give credit, at least a little, to Nusmetro Ventures. Legally, they need not provide compensation.

However, the developer made initiatives to offer between RM 140,000 to RM 260,000 as compensation to the Temporary Occupation of Land (TOL) title holders in High Chaparral.

Cattle owners were also offered RM 330,000 together with a 5 year rent free piece of land in Balik Pulau.

The residents must understand that the place they are occupying does not belong to them and since the beginning, they were only holding TOL titles.

Perhaps the State Government should have drafted proper housing schemes in High Chaparral and come up with a housing purchase scheme that will benefit all parties involved.

Anyway, Penang State leaders should stop pointing fingers at Penang Gerakan for the land problems.


After all, that was why Penang BN got voted out and that is one of the reasons why I call for the return of Penang BN leadership to MCA instead of being under Gerakan.

MCA have been open and transparent with the independent probe by PwC, MACC and PAC on the PKFZ project. When will Gerakan come out and tell their story ?

Pointing fingers at previous administration doesn't mean that Penang Pakatan need not worry about undoing the mistakes and solving the problems of the people.

I thought we have a lot of lawyers and constitutional experts as well as judges who side Pakatan - Tommy Thomas, NH Chan, Sankara Nair, Ngeh Koo Ham and many more.

How come NONE of you voice out anything on the High Chapparal case or come out with a point by point legal opinion like what they did with the complex Perak politics and Constitution ?

One thing is for sure, Guan Eng wont return to Malacca. He is unwanted there. Surely we all remember that he lost the party election in his home State ?

Makes me wonder why Penang DAP didn't appoint their own Penangite to lead the State Government.

Guan Eng is having endless problems. From PKR, PAS, councils, King of Tennis tournament, quarry inquiries, heritage, Aminah Tape and many more.

Something tells me, this won't end.


KEDAH DAP

The abattoir has been in the site which belongs to the City Council for more than 30 years and the operators have been served notices to relocate since 1995.

Kedah DAP should have been better mediators between the operators and the State Government to come to a mutually agreeable solution.

Why didn't Kedah DAP bring the case up to the Pakatan Leadership Council earlier on but chose to walk out of the meeting between councilors recently and sulk over it ?

The sole Chinese Pakatan ADUN there should have placed more efforts in assisting the relocation of the illegal abattoirs.

This is exactly what DAP Kedah should do instead of saying "I QUIT" and just leave the coalition, only to be told by DAP HQ that their decision is not final and will need the consent of the CWC.

I also urge all operators in future to adhere to the guidance provided by State Governments to ensure that the sensitivity of the Muslims as well as the health and environment perspective are considered with concern and respect.

Just for the record, there was no sight of Tian Chua driving his Camry around the area or crashing his vehicle to make a point.

One surely will begin to wonder what will happen if they govern at the Federal level. Anyone care to ask what does Datuk Seri Nik Aziz think ?

Anwar : Jambatan Kedua Pulau Pinang

Menurut DSAI, sekiranya kerajaan membina jambatan kedua ke utara sedikit, maka Jambatan itu dapat dikurangkan kepanjangannya.

Ini bermakna kos yang ditanggung oleh Kerajaan

• RM 4.5 billion kos pembinaan,
• RM 110 juta kos pengambilan semula tanah,
• RM 100 juta kos pampasan, dan
• RM 285 juta kos pembangunan

yang berjumlah RM 4.995 billion akan turun dan langkah ini menjimatkan dana Kerajaan Malaysia.

Yang menariknya, DSAI kata langkah itu akan menjimatkan Malaysia RM 4 billion termasuk ganti rugi kepada syarikat-syarikat yang telah diberikan kontrak !

Saya tak pasti apa yang dimaksudkan oleh DSAI. Mungkin DSAI perlu memberi penjelasan yang lebih teliti lagi.



YAB Ketua Menteri Pulau Pinang Lim Guan Eng juga keliru dengan bantahan DSAI itu. [Confusion in PR over second Penang bridge].

Buat masa ini menurut pemahaman saya, setelah perhitungan kos asal dan penjimatan melalui cadangan DSAI, Kerajaan Malaysia hanya perlu membayar RM 995 juta untuk Jambatan Pulau Pinang Kedua (sekiranya kos yang dilaporkan oleh Kerajaan ialah RM 4.995 bilion - TMI melaporkan kos pembinaan adalah di sekitar RM 12 billion)

Apakah sebenarnya kos rasmi Jambatan Kedua Pulau Pinang ?

Sekiranya kos tetap dengan angka RM 4.995 billion dan DSAI kata boleh jimat RM 4 billion, saya cadang kontrak diberi kepada DSAI dan benarkan Pakatan Rakyat bina Jambatan Rakyat paling murah di dunia itu.