Kampung Buah Pala folk turn to Umno after CM gives up

(The Star) – The beleaguered Kampung Buah Pala villagers have turned to the Bukit Gelugor Umno division for help now that the state government has washed its hands of the land controversy.

Residents’ association chairman M. Sugumaran said division chairman Datuk Omar Faudzar had agreed to hold talks with the developer and landowner over the matter.

“We are left without a choice since Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng washed his hands of the issue. We believe we will not be let down this time,” he told a press conference at the village here yesterday.

Sugumaran also said that eight families who had earlier agreed to the ex-gratia deal — a double-storey terrace house with a 99-year lease for each of the 24 temporary occupation license (TOL) holders — had returned the signed agreements to the developer.

“They are back with us. There are now 21 of us who do not agree with the offer,” he said.

The residents have until Aug 31 to vacate the over 100-year-old village in Bukit Gelugor before the developer, Nusmetro Ventures (P) Sdn Bhd, starts pulling down their houses on Sept 1.

The Federal Court had on Friday reaffirmed its June 24 decision that the Buah Pala residents must vacate their homes and hand the property over to the developer.

Sugumaran said the villagers were disappointed with Lim for “shirking his responsibility at the peak of the issue”. “It is disappointing for Lim to leave us at such a time. But luckily, when one door closes, (another opens), ” he said.

When contacted, Omar said he would meet up with representatives of Nusmetro Ventures on Tuesday.