CM’s press statement – Warning to Nusmetro

Press Statement By Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng In Georgetown On 2.7.2009.

The State Government Will Not Take A Single Cent Of The So-called “Goodwill Payment” From The Developer Unless The Residents Agree To The Compensation.

The Penang state government warns Nusmetro Ventures (P) Sdn Bhd, the developer of the proposed housing project in Kampung Buah Pala, for threatening to send bulldozers in by August 2 to forcibly evict residents and demolish their houses as highly irresponsible and inflammatory. 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 and there will be “no more extensions”. The one-month grace period was negotiated by the state government with the developer to find a solution to the problem.

Nusmetro claimed to have offered the highest compensation in the state from RM140,000 to RM260,000 to the temporary occupation of land (TOL) holders as well as their immediate and extended families. And even offered one of the two cattle ranchers there RM330,000 including a five-year rent-free deal for land in Balik Pulau which was rejected.

To say that the developer has the legal right not to pay anything to the residents just because the developer has a Federal Court order, would not assist in resolving this problem. Instead of all the cruel talk about bulldozers, the developer should continue to seek solutions that works towards a win-win situation for all parties. For this reason, the state government will not take a single cent of the “goodwill payment” proposed by the developer to the state government unless the villagers of Kampung Buah Pala agrees to the compensation.

I wish to reiterate that 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. Instead the state government had intervened to prevent the eviction of the residents since last year. Even though this is a court order obtained by the developer, the state government would continue to work aggressively to try to assist the villagers.

LIM GUAN ENG

11 thoughts on “CM’s press statement – Warning to Nusmetro

  1. keat & NK,
    Perhaps you should ask yourself, what happens to those house buyer in bukit antarabangsa and all other man made landslide victims.

    Malaysian are yet to aware the social responsibilities on the product/properties/etc they buy.

    Cronies try to shift the blame on the current Penang CM, but evade on the cronies and KTK roles on this. The villagers should be remind that what happens to Kampung Berembang Kampung Berembang in year 2006. When a real people government are absent to protect their rights.

    moo_t´s last blog post..Malaysia Boleh Culture : Slavery

  2. Sometimes I feel that people are blinded by emotion and don’t think rationally. Those people don’t own the land, and probably don’t pay land tax at all. How is it wrong when the owner of the land wants to remove people encroaching on the land?

    Those people who own a house with a small garden please post your address here. I will build a shanty hut in your garden. When you get bored of my presence, you are to pay me to leave. Think about it.

    People should think rationally and not behave like a douchebag.

  3. we chinese are all very rational until talk turns to pork or our chinese schools.

    what sad bunch we are.

    not know for our kindness.

  4. Think about this. Could the Hindraf boys be doing this to “blackmail” the state government and eventually force Najib (who is desparately needing a good news on his side) to pay the compensation to buy up the land. After all, the federal government can pay while LGE can’t. Hence, after that, Hindraf hails Najib as the leader of 1Malaysia and they join Pakatan. Tough luck for the 5 sitting in ISA earlier. You are ending up nothing.I am putting this as a point of discussion. After all, the spirit of Hindraf – ah well, money talks. They can raise funds but how much can they raise. A 20pct cut will help them build their army machinery and have better bargaining power within BN for turning the tide against Pakatan where the rest of the idiots within BN can’t. Money makes the world go round.

  5. Ya who to protect the buyers? Everyday I only read about Penang state gov fighting who is responsible for releasing the land and how to protect the Hindraf. If they are doing this to protect the 30 families votes, how about the 300+ buyers votes? The buyers also an innocent group of peoples, they have done nothing wrong but just wanting to have a place for home.

  6. Mike75 – Ya, maybe you all also start another protest. LOL, the more the merrier mah. Anyway, I think this is something the buyers ought to ask the developer to tackle.

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