This is a response to the comment by Quo Vadis, Penang, published in The Star on 13-11-2009 titled Forum Failed to Unplug Buah Pala issues.

The forum organised was titled Kampung Buah Pala Unplugged and not Unplugging Kampung Buah Pala which was quoted by Quo Vadis. In fact almost all the questions raised by Quo Vadis were explained and answered by the speakers during the forum.

The forum was organised to explain and clarify the confusions and matters pertaining to Kampug Buah Pala issues. DAPSY was invited as one of the speakers so that all the participants could have a chance to listen to both sides. It was regrettable that Quo Vadis accused that the objective was to shift blame.

As mentioned during the Forum, the reason to develop Kampung Buah Pala land was clearly mentioned during the forum. The objective is to provide around 1,000 units of affordable houses to Penangites and at the same time, the infrastructure and living environment of Kampung Buah Pala residents can be upgraded. Koperasi Pegawai Kerajaan Pulau Pinang which comprises members who are State government employees has to take care of their welfare. As compared to civil servants from other states, Penang State Government servants are generally not enjoying better perks.

The then BN State Government was very cautious in dealing with the ownership of Kampung Buah Pala land. The State Legal Adviser was instructed many times to ascertain the ownership of the land. Kampung Buah Pala residents were even welcomed if they could provide any documents to support their claim as the owners for the land. This case was then brought to the court and judgment was made.

If the claim that the documents had been torn is true, the present State Government who has the absolute power dealing with the involved individuals and has full access to these documents should take the necessary action immediately as this involves criminality.

The sale of the land was not finalized because the issue of compensation was still pending. While the then BN Exco members were negotiating with the residents, the then opposition party leaders involved had promised the residents that they could stay at Kampung Buah Pala forever if the opposition parties were voted to helm the Penang State Government. Following norms, the offer for sale of the land should have been called null and void but the present State Government concluded the sale and title was transferred in March 2008 (the same month Pakatan Rakyat took over the Penang State Government).

The then BN State Government had always placed the importance of the welfare of the residents and reasonable compensation should be paid to the residents. 14 families accepted the compensation in 11/10/2007.

The then BN State Government didn’t finalise the price of the land. At the 18/4/2007 Exco Meeting, the proposal to sell the land for RM3.2mil was deferred. In fact, the land was originally priced at RM6.4mil (approximately equivalent to RM 20 per sq ft), which would include another piece of land in Farquhar Street (swapped for the High Court building expansion project), and compensation to all the residents amounting to about RM3.4mil. Thus, the actual cost of land offered Koperasi was about RM40.50 per sq ft.

Land though planned to be sold for RM6.4 million (approximately equivalent to RM 20 per sq ft) if taking into consideration of the land which had been acquired for the High Court expansion, compensation to be paid to all the residents which was amounting to RM 3-4million and the locality of the land which is a distance away from main road, the actual cost of the land offered to the Koperasi was about RM40-50 per sq ft.

by Dr Thor Teong Gee
Secretary of Publicity, Information & Communication Bureau