KUALA LUMPUR: P. Uthayakumar will call on the United Nations to revoke George Town’s listing as a World Heritage site if the Penang government sits back and allow the demolition of Kampung Buah Pala.
The Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) leader, today told The Malaysian Insider he was preparing to write to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) and is undertaking the necessary research to make his case.
George Town, along with Malacca, was declared World Heritage sites by Unesco almost a year ago.
Uthayakumar, a lawyer by profession, said Penang does not deserve the Unesco recognition if it cannot even preserve the last and only Indian village on the island.
“Demolishing the settlement which has been around for over 100 years will not only destroy the homes of villagers but their way of life, livelihood and culture.”
The settlement of 41 families, most of whom are plantation workers and cowherds can trace their roots back five generations.
While Uthayakumar acknowledges it was the former BN state government which had allowed the land to be sold to a private developer, he maintains it’s the current government who must find a solution.
“We have gone to the village, the people there are desperate and they have pleaded with us to save their homes.”
He said despite denials, the issue was a racial one because authorities and the developer had earmarked Kampung Buah Pala because the people have no political clout.
“I would like to see them try and demolish a Malay village or Chinese fishing jetty on the Island.”
He cited the example of DAP pulling out of the Kedah state government because of the demolition of a pig abattoir.
“The DAP, like PKR and PAS, are supposed to be multiracial but they seem only to act when the issue affects the Malays or Chinese”.
He said Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng should offer the developer another site to build their condominiums while developing Kampung Buah Pala’s culture, heritage and history to draw more tourists to the island.
MI
02/07/09
The Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) leader, today told The Malaysian Insider he was preparing to write to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) and is undertaking the necessary research to make his case.
George Town, along with Malacca, was declared World Heritage sites by Unesco almost a year ago.
Uthayakumar, a lawyer by profession, said Penang does not deserve the Unesco recognition if it cannot even preserve the last and only Indian village on the island.
“Demolishing the settlement which has been around for over 100 years will not only destroy the homes of villagers but their way of life, livelihood and culture.”
The settlement of 41 families, most of whom are plantation workers and cowherds can trace their roots back five generations.
While Uthayakumar acknowledges it was the former BN state government which had allowed the land to be sold to a private developer, he maintains it’s the current government who must find a solution.
“We have gone to the village, the people there are desperate and they have pleaded with us to save their homes.”
He said despite denials, the issue was a racial one because authorities and the developer had earmarked Kampung Buah Pala because the people have no political clout.
“I would like to see them try and demolish a Malay village or Chinese fishing jetty on the Island.”
He cited the example of DAP pulling out of the Kedah state government because of the demolition of a pig abattoir.
“The DAP, like PKR and PAS, are supposed to be multiracial but they seem only to act when the issue affects the Malays or Chinese”.
He said Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng should offer the developer another site to build their condominiums while developing Kampung Buah Pala’s culture, heritage and history to draw more tourists to the island.
MI
02/07/09
No comments:
Post a Comment