PKR wants the authorities in Penang to hear out the residents' views pertaining to their calls to preserve Kampung Melayu Tanjung Tokong as a heritage village before making a decision on future development in the area.
“I want all parties to enter into serious negotiations to find an amicable solution on issues of compensation, resettlement and heritage,” said PKR leader Anwar Ibrahim.
He said the Penang government, Urban Development Authority (UDA) and Tanjung Tokong residents should meet to discuss all outstanding issues.
Although the development was undertaken by UDA, a federal agency, he said the state government must take part in the dialogue with the people because it involved land matters, which come under the state purview.
“Firstly, all residents shall be compensated adequately,” the parliamentary opposition leader told journalists when hosting a Hari Raya 'open house' in Taman Guar Perahu, Penanti today.
Anwar pointed out that deliberations on the heritage issue should take into account the historical background of the village, which had existed way before the colonial era.
He also stressed that the role of UDA, a government agency established in 1971, was to develop Malay settlements in the country's urban areas.
“The agency was also meant to ensure that Malay areas are not left out of mainstream development,” said the Permatang Pauh parliamentarian.
He said whatever decision taken on the issue should not be at the expense of the re-development programme to upgrade and modernise the coastal area's infrastructure and living environment.
“All demands and decisions shall be reasonable, amicable and acceptable by all parties,” he said.
PM urged to intervene
Tanjung Tokong Villagers Association has called on Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak to give the village heritage status.
Its chairperson Mohd Salleh Yahaya said the villagers have now lost all their rights after UDA declared them as 'squatters' in a statutory declaration late last year.
The association has started a nationwide signature campaign to drum up support and urge the prime minister to intervene.
Mohd Salleh's call has received support from Penang Malays Association (Pemenang), which called on the authorities to preserve the village in the overall development plan in Tanjung Tokong.
Pemenang president Yussof Latiff stressed that UDA was duty-bound to preserve Kampung Melayu Tanjung Tokong because the village was the oldest living Malay cultural village in Penang.
UDA has reportedly stated that the multi-billion ringgit Tanjung Tokong development programme would not include the preservation of the village as a living human cultural site.
Transparency needed on postal votes
On Bagan Pinang by-election, Anwar called on the Election Commission (EC) to undertake pro-active steps to overcome negative public perception the constituency's postal vote rolls.
“EC should clean up and update the postal vote list and allow representatives from all contesting parties to observe its balloting process.
“The postal votes shall also be counted at the polling station immediately after the balloting was over.
“I don't see any difficulties in EC fulfilling these demands,” said the Pakatan Rakyat leader, stressing that EC was duty bound to uphold democratic electoral process.
He said although Pakatan was confident of giving BN and Umno a tough fight at the by-election, the postal voters remained a major obstacle to victory,” he said.
There are 13,664 voters in Bagan Pinang, of which 9,060 are ordinary voters with the remainder of 4,604 - or about one-third - being postal voters.
The large number of postal voters is due to the several army camps located in the constituency.
Nomination is on Oct 3 (Saturday) and polling is on Oct 11 (Sunday).
The seat fell vacant following the death of incumbent BN assemblyperson Azman Mohammad Noor on Sept 4 from blood infection.
In the general election in March 2008, Azman defeated PAS' Ramli Ismail with a majority of 2,333 votes. He polled 6,430 votes against Ramli's 4,097.
MK
22/09/09
“I want all parties to enter into serious negotiations to find an amicable solution on issues of compensation, resettlement and heritage,” said PKR leader Anwar Ibrahim.
He said the Penang government, Urban Development Authority (UDA) and Tanjung Tokong residents should meet to discuss all outstanding issues.
Although the development was undertaken by UDA, a federal agency, he said the state government must take part in the dialogue with the people because it involved land matters, which come under the state purview.
“Firstly, all residents shall be compensated adequately,” the parliamentary opposition leader told journalists when hosting a Hari Raya 'open house' in Taman Guar Perahu, Penanti today.
Anwar pointed out that deliberations on the heritage issue should take into account the historical background of the village, which had existed way before the colonial era.
He also stressed that the role of UDA, a government agency established in 1971, was to develop Malay settlements in the country's urban areas.
“The agency was also meant to ensure that Malay areas are not left out of mainstream development,” said the Permatang Pauh parliamentarian.
He said whatever decision taken on the issue should not be at the expense of the re-development programme to upgrade and modernise the coastal area's infrastructure and living environment.
“All demands and decisions shall be reasonable, amicable and acceptable by all parties,” he said.
PM urged to intervene
Tanjung Tokong Villagers Association has called on Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak to give the village heritage status.
Its chairperson Mohd Salleh Yahaya said the villagers have now lost all their rights after UDA declared them as 'squatters' in a statutory declaration late last year.
The association has started a nationwide signature campaign to drum up support and urge the prime minister to intervene.
Mohd Salleh's call has received support from Penang Malays Association (Pemenang), which called on the authorities to preserve the village in the overall development plan in Tanjung Tokong.
Pemenang president Yussof Latiff stressed that UDA was duty-bound to preserve Kampung Melayu Tanjung Tokong because the village was the oldest living Malay cultural village in Penang.
UDA has reportedly stated that the multi-billion ringgit Tanjung Tokong development programme would not include the preservation of the village as a living human cultural site.
Transparency needed on postal votes
On Bagan Pinang by-election, Anwar called on the Election Commission (EC) to undertake pro-active steps to overcome negative public perception the constituency's postal vote rolls.
“EC should clean up and update the postal vote list and allow representatives from all contesting parties to observe its balloting process.
“The postal votes shall also be counted at the polling station immediately after the balloting was over.
“I don't see any difficulties in EC fulfilling these demands,” said the Pakatan Rakyat leader, stressing that EC was duty bound to uphold democratic electoral process.
He said although Pakatan was confident of giving BN and Umno a tough fight at the by-election, the postal voters remained a major obstacle to victory,” he said.
There are 13,664 voters in Bagan Pinang, of which 9,060 are ordinary voters with the remainder of 4,604 - or about one-third - being postal voters.
The large number of postal voters is due to the several army camps located in the constituency.
Nomination is on Oct 3 (Saturday) and polling is on Oct 11 (Sunday).
The seat fell vacant following the death of incumbent BN assemblyperson Azman Mohammad Noor on Sept 4 from blood infection.
In the general election in March 2008, Azman defeated PAS' Ramli Ismail with a majority of 2,333 votes. He polled 6,430 votes against Ramli's 4,097.
MK
22/09/09
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