http://dapmalaysia.org |
Media Conference Statement (2) by Lim Kit Siang in Parliament on Wednesday, 1st July 2009: Penang Kampung Buah Pala controversy - Koh Tsu Koon should speak up as to whether he would make amends for his decisions as Penang Chief Minister by securing Federal Government grant to Penang State Government to resolve issue with �a stroke of the pen�? The former Penang Chief Minister and now Minister in the Prime Minister�s Department, Tan Sri Dr. Koh Tsu Koon should speak up as to whether he would make amends for his decisions as Penang Chief Minister in the Kampung Buah Pala, Penang controversy by securing a Federal Government grant to Penang State Government to resolve the issue with �a stroke of the pen�? The Penang Pakatan Rakyat government is now caught in a vice created by Koh�s administration although it had prevented the eviction of the residents in the area since the middle of last year. Firstly, Koh must explain why as Chief Minister, his Executive Council had approved the state government land of Kampung Buah Pala to Koperasi Pegawai Kerajaan Pulau Pinang, first time on 18th August 2004 and second time on 8th June 2005 at a very low premium of RM6.42 million or RM20 per square feet. Secondly, why Koh and his Exco subsequently halved the premium to RM3.21 million or only RM10 psf on the recommendation of the Umno Deputy Chief Minister � far below the market price of the prime land. Thirdly, why Koh and the Penang State Government had not consulted the residents concerned before alienating the land which is now to be developed into the 14-storey luxury-living Oasis project with a Gross Development Value of RM150 million, comprising 490 condominium units (priced from RM240,000 to RM290,000) on the 2.6 hectare site. It has been said that the Penang Chief Minister, Lim Guan Eng can resolve the Kampung Buah Pala issue with �a stroke of the pen�. Yes, it can be resolved with �a stroke of the pen� but involving compensation for the RM150 million Oasis project. Can the Penang State Government afford such a compensation? Is Koh prepared to raise in Friday�s Cabinet meeting that the Federal Government make a grant to the Penang State Government for the amount needed to resolve Kampung Buah Pala issue with �a stroke of the pen� by the Penang Chief Minister? Time has come for Koh to speak up or he will be failing his own KPI although he is the Cabinet monitor to oversee the KPIs of all Ministers. *Lim Kit Siang, DAP Parliamentary leader & MP for Ipoh Timor
|