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Of heartachge
& hard livin
Farmers left in
by R. Nadeswaran and
Terence Fernandez
newsdesk@thesundaily.com
HAH ALAM: With a
S few strokes of the pen,
the state acquired agri-
cultural land in Banting,
Selangor, from a group of
farmers for mining. That was
the cold
in 1982. Without a single hole
being dug, the land is now in
private hands and the usage
of the land has been changed
to housing.
The case of acquisition of
111ha of oil palm plantation
is a study of how state instru-
ments are used to acquire
land for private interests.
It shows that individuals in the state
government then got the farmers to
surrender their land by making promises
which they did not intend to keep.
Having gazetted the acquisition
for mining in 1982, the previous land-
owners near Brooklyn Estate who had
been harvesting oil palm and vegetables
since 1962, were told that:
» they would be given alternative land;
» they may continue harvesting until
mining commences;
» they would be compensated for the
loss of the oil palm trees and vegetable
farms.
However, no mining ever commenced
and apart from receiving RM8,000 each
for their trees and crops, the 52 farmers
never received the replacement land that
was promised.
In the interim period, the ownership
of the land changed several times – first
to the hands of state-owned Kumpulan
Perangsang Selangor Berhad, which then
sold the land to another state subsidiary
SAP Holdings Berhad in 1994.
In 1996, by another transaction,
property developer Goodcrest Develop-
ment Sdn Bhd was given temporary
ownership of the land.
SAP had then entered into a settlement
agreement with another state subsidiary
Perangsang International Sdn Bhd (PISB)
in 1999, following which the land was
transferred permanently to Goodcrest
Development under a “joint venture” for
RM8.45 million on April 5, 2000.
Goodcrest Development directors in
the transfer deed were listed as Tan Cha
Fak and Tan Chern Chee.
The company’s latest annual return
form dated June 30, 2008, names Koh
Member of Audit Bureau of Circulations (Malaysia)
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March 16, 2009
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pg21
Federal
govt to
seek CM
Lim’s help
by Himanshu Bhatt
newsdesk@thesundaily.com
52 SOLD AGRICULTURE PLOTS SEBERANG PERAI: The federal
government is taking an unpre-
cedented initiative to seek Chief
FOR MINING, BUT LAND NOW Minister Lim Guan Eng’s help to
resolve problems faced by Rapid-
CONVERTED TO HOUSING Penang in getting proper land to
house 200 new buses.
Second Finance Minister Tan Sri
EPAPIX
Nor Mohamed Yackop said he will
personally meet Lim in Parliament
Thuan Heng and Kok Kian On as this week to ask for land from the
shareholders – the former holding state. He said a positive outcome
249,000 of 250,000 shares; and the would be evidence that the state
latter only one share. and federal governments, although
Recent checks with the Compa- from opposing political coalitions,
nies Commission of Malaysia reveal could work together for the people’s
that Goodcrest Development was betterment.
registered on Aug 12, 1995 and its “I am preparing a note to
directors are now listed as Jamalu- discuss this matter with the state
din Mohamed and Rosli Mamat authorities,” he said. “These buses
– both appointed on Sept 10, 2007. are for the good of the people.”
Last October, the farmers who RapidPenang has asked the state
had been regularly harvesting the for a nominal rental of RM1 or RM10
vegetables and oil palm were for a 30-year lease of a site in Sun-
prevented from entering the land. gai Nibong, but the Penang Island
One of them who approached Municipal Council, which wants to
theSun said as far as the agree- charge a higher rental, has yet to
ment he signed 27 years ago decide on the matter.
is concerned, he should only “I am confident Lim will give
cease to harvest the land once his help as this is important for the
mining starts. people of Penang. It will be evidence
“To our understanding, there of positive cooperation between
was no such thing as a housing federal and state parties,” said Nor
development project,” said Mohamed.
the man who had lodged “Whatever is good for Penan-
a police report on Dec 3 gites, the federal and state govern-
last year. ments have to work together to
He said the former land- resolve.”
owners will be seeking legal RapidPenang, which started
counsel to ad- operations in July 2007, is owned
vise them as by Finance Ministry Inc.
to their rights Nor Mohamed spoke after of-
and to ensure ‘Swiss’ revenge ... ficiating at the AGM of the Penang
that the state Malay Hawkers and Petty Traders
WORLD No. 1 Datuk Lee Chong Wei straight sets, 21-16, 21-16. Koo Kien
government Association in Bagan Ajam.
avenged his All England defeat to Keat-Tan Boon Heong made it a double
honours its In his speech, association
archrival and World No. 2 Lin Dan of celebration for the Malaysian camp
end of the president Datuk Zainal Abidin Abdul
China last week by turning the tables when they clinched the men’s doubles
bargain which Majid lamented that the body, which
on the Chinese player to win the title after beating Danish pair Mathias
includes of- comprised some 6,000 members,
Swiss Open Super Series final at the Boe-Carsten Mogensen, also in straight
fering them had stopped receiving aid from the
St Jakobshalle indoor arena in Basel, sets (21-14, 21-18).
alternative Entrepreneur Development Council
Switzerland, yesterday. Lee won in
land. » Full report Back Page since last year.