Dear Mr Lim Kit Siang,
As much as HINDRAF respects you as an elderly veteran statesman, I am surprised that you are actually echoing similar statements of your son LGE in regards to the Kg Buah Pala issue and continue to admonish HINDRAF when the core accountability issue is still not solved.
HINDRAF is an ardent supporter of your party’s cause for competency, accountability and transparency for all Malaysian but it cannot sit quietly and watch when the state government in Penang has not done all that is necessary to safeguard the interest of the Kg Buah Pala residents.
Sir, Kg Buah Pala is not a new issue, but that had been in existence prior to your party’s governance. Yes, we are aware that the BN administration abetted by Koh Tsu Koon had acted mala fide for its own interest against the interest of the public, but, my question is why the current government didn’t do more than sit and wait until the whole issue exploded this week with the involvement of HINDRAF. Sir, Are you telling me that the state government could not have initiated an investigation on the questionable sale and transfer that actually took effect after your party came in power. Did the state government ever make a report to MACC? No!!! What attempts did the state government conduct either through its executive and legal power to support the residents in establishing the allegation of power abuse and corruption that lead to the illegal sale & transfer of the land. None!!! Sir, you ask us pursue after Koh Tsu Koon, but wouldn’t it be just and fair that your party that currently holds the power in Penang should have been doing this from the day you took over the helm as a segment of your state have been victimized. Did LGE ever once raise the issue of Kg Buah Pala residents and the questionable land transfer issue in Parliament? Not a chance.
The residents of Kg Buah Pala were left alone to fight their own battle against the mighty corrupted machineries of the government. If only they would have had your assistance and guidance through your resources then the whole transaction could have been invalidated and those residents would not be living out of fear for losing what is rightfully theirs. DAP fought tooth and nail in Perak for New Villages and Kg Tersusun but Kg Buah Pala residents slipped through its radar.
A simple independent investigative journalism as seen here at http://anilnetto.com/accountability/lifting-the-corporate-veil-on-nusmetro-ventures-part-1/ by a citizen cast a doubt on the affair of the sale and transfer of the land, yet why did the state government fail to flex its muscle in the state of Penang to assist these residents?
Sir, you talk about compensation and so forth when the issue here is not about that but why did Penang state government fail to rise to the occasion and challenge the fraudulent misappropriation of the land but rather watch the misery of these residents from the sideline.
Sir, on humanity stance, you may realize that the generation of Kg Buah Pala goes back to 200 years where they were even the first milk supplies to the Penang hospital. They have grown from one generation to another and live as a family union from the parents, children, brothers, sisters, grandchildren and great grand children within their own respective land running and playing around their compound along with the cows, goats and chickens. Those houses there were erected by themselves to fit the enlarged family members with at least each joined family owning close to 15,000 sq feet. Now the Developer steps in offers around 850 sq feet flat for each house, not the household with meager compensation. Can you expect them to buy a place similar to the quiet enjoyment that they had within their joined family, notwithstanding the fact the said sum need to divided between the household members. Where is the justice or fairness and can you consider this as adequate & fair compensation. Why has the Penang state government not paid any attention to these residents at least on the basis of humanity? I can understand if the supercilious BN ruled as this things does not matter to them as long as the nepotism, cronyism, corruption and inept system keeps them there, they will even sell their soul but definitely not from DAP along with their Pakatan partners who thrived on popular support to ensure a real change for the public. The actual issue on the ground is more complex than what it appears in the media and lip service politicians to exculpate themselves from responsibility and accountability when all the residents seek is to continue the quiet enjoyment of their live with their families.
It is very convenient to come out and picture HINDRAF in a bad light and side track the whole issue but at the end of the day the truth is the consequences is faced by the poor and defenseless residents against the might of the government and the developer due to the failure of the Penang state government to protect its public in Kg Buah Pala.
HINDRAF wages a battle for the truth to emerge for the poor and defenseless irrespective of whichever is the governing party rather than doing what seems to be politically right.
Thank you
HINDRAF P.Waythamoorthy
 |
The Blogs 
