New twists in ‘High Chaparral’ saga (Update)

(The Star) GEORGE TOWN: There were new twists in the Kampung Buah Pala land dispute with one residents’ representative apologising to state authorities, others disputing the apology, the role of the lawyer purportedly representing them being questioned, and a corruption report being lodged — all on Monday!

The Kampung Buah Pala — also known as Penang’s High Chaparral — residents’ association chairman apologised to the state and Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng for “all that has happened.”

M. Sugumaran said he was apologising “on behalf of the residents” but association secretary J. Steven and assistant secretary C. Tharmaraj denied knowing anything about the move.

“We are sorry for everything that has happened but we were worried about losing our homes,” Sugumaran told a press conference at the Dewan Sri Pinang after the investiture ceremony in conjunction with the Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Abdul Rahman Abbas’ 71st birthday celebration on Monday.

Sugumaran also denied that lawyer Darshan Singh Khaira was their “official legal representative” although the lawyer claimed he was with Tharmaraj preparing the affidavits to be filed in court for the residents — even as Sugumaran made the apology, claiming to be representing the residents.

Lim, who was also present at the press conference, said he accepted the apology and would meet with a representative from each of the 23 affected families at 8pm on Thursday.

“They know the government is innocent in this matter and I will meet with them to have a heart-to-heart talk to solve this problem with no lawyers involved,” he said.

Darshan has been very vocal on the villagers’ plight and even accompanied them to hand over a memorandum to Lim at the latter’s office in Komtar recently.

Darshan said Tharmaraj called him at about 2pm Monday to confirm that he was still the lawyer on record for the residents.

The residents, he said, had given him a letter of authority to represent them.

“Both Tharmaraj and Steven told me that Sugumaran has no authority to speak on behalf of the committee or the residents.

“I was with Tharmaraj the whole morning preparing affidavits for our application in court,” he said.

Steven, meanwhile, said he was puzzled as to why Sugumaran had acted on his own without informing any of the committee members.

“I don’t know why he went to see the Chief Minister on his own. I cannot comment further until I meet him tonight. Darshan is still the residents’ lawyer as far as I know,” said Steven.

MACC report
The Penang Government has also lodged a report with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) over a 50% discount given to Koperasi Pegawai Kerajaan Pulau Pinang by the previous state government in the lease of the Kampung Buah Pala land.

The report, lodged at the state MACC building in Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah by Chief Minister II Dr P. Ramasamy at about 3:20pm Monday, is the state’s first ever report to the graft investigation body.

“On April 25, 2007, a major discount of 50% was approved to Koperasi Pegawai Kerajaan Pulau Pinang which had originally leased the land for RM6.4mil.

“This brought the premium to RM3.2mil or RM10 per sq ft for this piece of prime land despite there being reservations from (then) state exco member Datuk Dr Teng Hock Nan about the low premium.

“The state is shocked with the sale of the land at such a cheap price, which was done without consulting the residents occupying the said land under temporary occupation licences,” he told a press conference before handing over the report.

Dr Ramasamy questioned the roles of (then Chief Minister Tan Sri) Dr Koh Tsu Koon and the person behind the discount (former Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri) Abdul Rashid (Abdullah).

“We hope the MACC will begin investigations into the matter as quickly as possible so the culprits can be brought to justice,” he said.

He later handed over the report to state MACC chief assistant director Mohd Noor Abd Rahman on behalf of the state’s five-man exco committee that had been set up to investigate the Kampung Buah Pala land issue.

Dr Ramasamy was accompanied by Deputy Chief Minister I Mansor Othman and Seri Delima assemblyman R.S.N. Rayer, who was present in his capacity as a lawyer.

Mohd Noor said the state MACC had already finished investigations into prior allegations of corruption in the Kampung Buah Pala issue but would “reopen the case” based on the new information provided by the state and by newspaper reports.

“Our investigations last month showed no elements of corruption in the case and the case was closed. However, with this new information, we will reopen investigations for any graft or misuse of power,” he said.

On June 9, Kampung Buah Pala residents lodged a MACC report over the issue.