Published on: Monday, May 21, 2007 |
Putatan: The developer in the joint-venture agreement with MLGH Sdn Bhd to implement the Sembulan Urban Renewal Scheme must seriously consider the plight of landowners affected by the project.
MP Datuk Dr Marcus Mojigoh said he might not be clear about the contents of the agreement between the developer and Sembulan residents but hoped the welfare of the affected landowners would be given priority.
"I think it is good that the developer considers the plight of the people on humanitarian ground. We don't want to cause anger among the people," he said when asked to comment on the fear of Sembulan folk when their land is taken away to make way for the project.
The Umno Kampung Sembulan Lama Laut branch head, Alimat Haji Wahid, was reported as urging the Government to look into the joint-venture agreement because it had been taking a long time and that the interest of landowners was not taken into consideration.
He said such situation might hamper Mayor Datuk Iliyas Ibrahim's vision of turning Sembulan into a "city within a city".
Another resident, Manah Ali Hamat, a 59-year-old widow, said not only they were unclear about the whole deal but also fear that at the end of the day they would have no place to stay.
She had been trying to renew the lease of her land that expired in 1989 but not approved by the Land and Survey Department until now.
"Previously we heard MLGH Sdn Bhd promising to give a shophouse or a two-storey terrace house as well as monetary compensation. We also heard that those whose land tenure has expired will not be getting any," she lamented.
Manah had said that the Government should review the agreement between MLGH Sdn Bhd and the private developer because the delay in its implementation had also resulted in their living environment a hazard, particularly when the water outlet had been made smaller.
Met at the inaugural Pesta Kaamatan for Putatan as a full-fledged district at Dewan Putatan in Kampung Pasir Putih, near here, Sunday, Mojigoh said even a verbal agreement is already considered a contract that must be honoured by those making the deal.
"We want to discourage developers making half-hearted effort and not considering the needs of the community," he said, adding that also needs to be avoided is creating an opening for the opposition to exploit and discredit the Government.
He felt the same way about the open space issue at the Double Six Memorial in Sembulan although he understood that City Hall was finding ways to gain extra income through the project.
Earlier, Mojigoh urged the people irrespective of race, religion and creed to set aside differences during the Harvest Festival, which is supposed to be for people to celebrate after working hard in the past one year.
"We must prioritise unity and should not be bothered with whatever negative things that others say against us," he said, adding that the people must inculcate the precision culture so as to achieve progress.
Mojigoh advised them to apply the five values - smile, smart, study, share and serve - that he coined himself as the way towards achieving unity in this plural community.
The KDM community, he said, must also stop looking behind if they want to be at par with the other communities in the country.
Also on hand was Sembulan Assemblyman Edward Yong, who is also Assistant Local Government and Housing Minister.
