theSun | MONDAY JULY 27 2009 5

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Approval to develop Kg Buah Pala revoked

by Himanshu Bhatt
newsdesk@thesundaily.com
GEORGE TOWN: The Penang
government has revoked all approv-
als for a controversial development
project slated on the Kampung Buah
Pala land here, based on powers
given to it under the Town and
Country Planning Act 1976.
Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said
yesterday he had directed the Penang
Island Municipal Council (MPPP) to
cancel any approval for ‘The Oasis’
project in order to help the Kampung
Buah Pala villagers there who are
facing eviction to make way for the
development.
Lim first made the announcement
following a late night meeting with
the villagers at his office on Friday.
He stressed that the state wanted
the developer, Nusmetro Venture (P)
Sdn Bhd, to reach an agreement with
the residents to allocate an adjacent
plot of land for them to move to.
The revocation is being made
ahead of an Aug 2 deadline set by
Nusmetro Venture to evict the villag-
ers. The court has already served a
writ of possession on the residents.
Lim yesterday pointed out that
although Nusmetro could still legally
take possession of the land, it would
not be able to carry out any develop-
ment.
He was speaking to reporters after
officiating at the All Stars Chingay
contest at the Esplanade here yes-
terday.
Asked if Nusmetro had been will-
ing to come to the negotiation table
since the revocation was announced,
Lim declined to give details but
acknowledged that talks were ongo-
ing.
He stressed that the Pakatan
Rakyat state government wanted to
help the villagers, and once again
pointed out that the land transaction
and approval had been done under
the previous Barisan National (BN)
administration.
He also explained that the issu-
ance of the land title to the current
owner on March 27, 2008 – three
weeks after Pakatan Rakyat came
into power – was an administrative
matter that was done after the final
instalment for the premium was set-
tled on March 14, 2008.
“The sale and purchase agreement
had already been signed before,” he
explained following criticism that his
government was guilty of letting the
deal go through.
Lim had told reporters last
week that his office had been sent
a letter by Nusmetro stating that it
may sue for at least RM150 million
if the state obstructed its plans for
the project.
“I am willing to ignore any threats
of suits,” he said when asked to com-
ment.
Meanwhile, in BUTTER-
WORTH, MIC president Datuk
Seri S. Samy Vellu said the party is
willing to cooperate with the Penang
government to resolve the Kampung
Buah Pala issue for the sake of the
Indian community.
Samy Vellu said to this end,
he would meet the chief minister
soon to discuss the matter, reports
Bernama.
“I have contacted him (Lim) this
morning and we will decide on the
date for the meeting this afternoon
to find ways of resolving the prob-
lems of the Indian residents in the
village.
“Most probably, the meeting will
be held in two or three days,” he
told reporters before opening the
63rd Penang MIC convention here
yesterday.
Samy Vellu reiterated MIC’s will-
ingness to pay premium of RM3.2
million for the return of the affected
land in Kampung Buah Pala.
“MIC is prepared to pay to help
resolve the problem and return the
land to the Kampung Buah Pala
residents,” he added.

Bogus agents on the

prowl: Hishamuddin
SANDAKAN: Bogus agents are on
the prowl in Sabah, claiming they
could help facilitate applications for
identity documents for a fee of be-
tween RM5,000 and RM10,000, Home
Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin
Tun Hussein disclosed yesterday.
He said that these agents would
use application forms purportedly
issued by the National Registration
Department (NRD) through a “com-
mittee on the registration of immi-
grants in Sabah”.
They claimed they could facilitate
the speedy approval of applications
for citizenship as well as late regis-
tration of births, he said.
“Neither the home minister nor
the NRD has appointed any indi-
vidual to be its agent, apart from its
own officers and staff members,” he
told reporters after opening the Batu
Sapi Umno delegates’ meeting here.
Hishammuddin said stern action
would be taken against these agents
as well as those who engaged their
service.
He said these agents were taking
advantage of the announcement by
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib
Tun Razak on the government’s
commitment to clear the backlog
in citizenship, birth certificate and
entry permit applications.
Those caught paying for these
agents would have their applica-
tions withdrawn and their names
blacklisted, he added.
On the operations against loan
sharks or Along, Hishammuddin said
he had instructed all district police The hearse bearing
chiefs to trace the owners of mobile Yasmin’s remains
phone numbers in advertisements prepares to leave for
offering such loans. the burial ground.

Water taxis to make debut in

Penang soon
BUTTERWORTH: Water taxis will
soon be making waves in Penang as
study on the service and is expected
to complete it in three months.
Tributes pour in for Yasmin
a new mode of transportation and He added that the project was by Bissme S. Festival 2005. It also bagged be her last. “It is ironic that it
tourism product. tabled recently by the NCIA and had newsdesk@thesundaily.com the Asian Film Award at ended up being Yasmin’s
Minister in the Prime Minister’s been approved by the government. the Tokyo International last film instead,” she said
Department Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Nor Mohamed said the water PETALING JAYA: Close to 200 people Film Festival 2005, and in a phone interview.
Yakcop said the service would not taxis, which will operate between the turned up to pay their respects at the the Grand Prix Award at Fellow director Oth-
only make it convenient for Pen- mainland and the island, would not funeral of talented filmmaker Yasmin the Creteil International man Hafsham when
angites but also double as a tourist disrupt the existing ferry operations. Ahmad, who passed away at 11.25pm Women’s Film Festival met at the funeral, was
attraction. Penang Port Commission chair- on Saturday. in the same year. generous in his praise
“These water taxis will increase man, Tan Cheng Liang said recently The multiracial crowd, many of Her other films for Yasmin.
Penang’s appeal among tourists and that RM50 million had been allocated them in tears, was testimony to Yas- included Gubra (2006), “She is a director
provide the opportunity for those for the project. min’s ability to reach across ethnic Mukhsin (2006), Muallaf who speaks her mind
interested in running the project,” Tan said among the areas sug- and cultural boundaries in both her (2008) and Talentime and her films reflect this,”
he told reporters after attending the gested as routes on the island side films and the television commercials (2009). he said.
Tasek Gelugor Umno division meet- were the waters of Tanjung Bungah, she created for Petronas. The 51-year-old Muar- “Only in this country was
ing here yesterday. Teluk Bahang, Georgetown, Pulau The prayers took place at about born Yasmin, who was Yasmin ... her movies considered
Nor Mohamed, who is also Tasek Jerajak and Batu Maung while the 10am at Masjid Abu Bakar As Siddiq married to Abdullah Tan suffered a stroke controversial. But in inter-
Gelugor MP, said the Northern Seberang Perai area would cover the at Section 19/7A, Subang Jaya before Yew Leong, began her national film festivals they
Corridor Implementation Authority waters of Bagan Ajam, Butterworth, her body was taken to the Muslim career as a copywriter with Ogilvy & all accept her movies. Indeed she has
(NCIA) was currently carrying out a Batu Kawan and Nibong Tebal. burial ground at USJ22. Mather before joining Leo Burnnett, became a role model for many aspir-
Dotted among the crowd of fam- where she rose to become its crea- ing directors out there,” he said.
ily and friends were celebrities and tive executive director. Ida Nerina, who is recovering
politicians, including Minister in the Yasmin’s sudden death leaves a from a bad fall, sent a text message
Kraftangan targets RM500,000 in sales Prime Minister’s Department Tan Sri void in the local film industry and her to theSun to share her thoughts on
KUCHING: The Malaysian Handicrafts Development Corporation (Kraftangan Dr Koh Tsu Koon, Air Asia CEO Datuk legacy will be long remembered. Yasmin.
Malaysia) has set a target of RM500,000 in sales during the nine-day Sarawak Tony Fernandez, 8TV CEO Ahmad Award-winning actress Azean “Yasmin’s passing is a tragic loss,”
Malaysian Crafts Promotion 2009, here beginning yesterday. Idzam Omar, singer Jaclyn Victor, Irdawaty, who worked with Yasmin she said.
Kraftangan Malaysia Chairman Datuk Seri Mohd Salleh Tun Said said the film director Suhaimi Baba and actor on Talentime, told theSun she was “Yasmin Ahmad was more than
promotion at the Kuching Waterfront which will end on Aug 2, would feature Rosyam Nor. in Singapore when she heard about just a talented creative director. She
85 entrepreneurs, including 53 from Sarawak, 24 from Kelantan, six from Yasmin, who collapsed after Yasmin’s death. She rushed back just was a loving daughter, wife, mother,
Sabah, and one each from Malacca and Negri Sembilan in various fields such suffering a stroke and underwent in time for the funeral. sister and a teacher to many of us
as textiles, forest products, ceramics, metal and various other crafts. surgery for cerebral haemorrhage on “I am glad that I managed to see who are fortunate to have had her to
“The promotion, with the theme ‘Crafts and Lifestyle’ aims to promote Thursday, had been a creative force and kiss Yasmin for the last time,” sweep us off our feet.
Malaysian crafts and encourage the local community and tourists to continue in the advertising and film industry, said Azean, who, in her rush ended “Yasmin was fiercely patriotic
supporting handicrafts in their lifestyle. having won awards and accolades up leaving her luggage at the airport. and a true Malaysian. I think she has
“In addition, the 1Malaysia concept is being absorbed in the promotion by both locally and internationally. Azean, who has been diagnosed taught many of us to trust our gut
featuring arts and crafts as a medium to strengthen solidarity and integration Her interracial love story Sepet with breast cancer, remembered an when being creative.
in the peninsula, Sabah and Sarawak,” he said at the media conference on (2004) was accorded the Best Film incident during the press conference “The most important lesson Yas-
the Sarawak Malaysian Crafts Promotion 2009, here. Kraftangan Malaysia Award and the Best Original Screen- for Talentime, when the actress said min Ahmad taught me was humility,”
plans to hold five Malaysian Crafts promotions this year. – Bernama play Award at the Malaysian Film she did not mind if the movie was to she added.