KUALA LUMPUR, 6 July 2009: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said the federal government will not intervene in the Kampung Buah Pala issue as it was a matter that had to be dealt with by the Penang government.
Asked to comment on reports that Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng would write a letter to seek assistance from the federal government to resolve the issue, Najib said that since land was a state matter, the Kampung Buah Pala issue would be under the purview of state authorities.
“If we are to intervene, it would create a major precedent and we will be asked to intervene in other cases as well,” he told reporters after the groundbreaking ceremony for the 50-storey Naza Group office tower here.
Lim reportedly said the assistance Penang was seeking from the federal government concerned the acquisition of a piece of land from Koperasi Pegawai Kerajaan Pulau Pinang, and the payment of compensation to developer Nusmetro Ventures (P) Sdn Bhd to enable the 23 families to continue staying in Kampung Buah Pala.
Kampung Buah Pala residents would have to vacate the land after the Federal Court dismissed their appeal to remain in the area, which they have been occupying for a long time. They refused to move out, and had asked the Penang state government to intervene to resolve the problem. — Bernama
Ong Eu Soon says
Lousy attempt by LGE to pass the buck to BN. LGE just has no political will to solve the problem. He just ignores the fact that the residents of Kampung Buah Pala were not squatters at any instance. He ignores the fact that they have been cheated their land in broad daylight by the previous state government. He ignores the fact that the Penang State Appeals Board has the authority to revoke the development right by bringing the issue under its review.
He should help the residents file an appeal to the Penang State Appeals Board over the decisions of local planning authorities to develop Kampung Buah Pala. By doing so, he can stop the developer from evicting the residents pending appeal to the Board. The Board can issue a directive to stop the developer from chasing the residents away. But did LGE really help? No, he just paid lip service to his very own supporters.
M.K. says
I am sure his reaction would have been the opposite if Penang was under BN rule. He must be hoping that this issue will cause the fall of the state government and allow them to just walk in and take over! Wishful thinking!