Pakatan Rakyat's actions just like BN - anti freedom of expression, freedom of assembly, protests, demonstration...

We oppose the ISA and Detention Without Trials - hence we must not be calling for the usage of these laws against any other

Sedition Act - We are also opposed to this Act, and we have called for its repeal.

Freedom of Assemble and Freedom of Expression - we are for this, and we say that this a fundamental right.

- We condemn the necessity of getting 'permissions' from the police. We say it is a right, and hence there should not be any requirement for getting any permits, etc.

- We condemn police action breaking down protests, public assemblies, etc. We condemn the arresting of persons involved in their exercise of the right to protest, right to assemble, right to march,

- We condemn the use of tear-gas, water cannons, etc..

And sadly, now it the Pakatan Rakyat that is behaving exactly like the BN

Making of police report - asking police to arrest the organisers, etc 

Earlier today, PKR state youth deputy chief Ahmad Azrizal Tahir lodged a report at the Lebuh Pantai police station calling on the police to probe and nab the culprits behind the demonstration.

In his report, Ahmad Azrizal (right) alleged that the demonstrators had made inflammatory statements, hurled racial taunts and their banners and placards were offensive.

He also complained that the protesters wrongly accused the state government of deceiving and lying to the people of Penang. - Malaysiakini, 1/12/2009, BN demo condemned, police report lodged

The burning or stepping on posters, effigies, of persons, flags,  - what is so wrong with that? Is that not a graphic display of expression, which is commonly found in many a rally or peaceful assembly.

Newly appointed PKR state youth chief Amir Ghazali condemned the burning of Lim's poster during the demonstration.

He described as "unruly and unethical" the stomping and torching of a state government leader's poster.- Malaysiakini, 1/12/2009, BN demo condemned, police report lodged

So childish – say former PKR assemblymen Jamaluddin Mohd Radzi and Mohd Osman Jailu, who had pictures of their faces “stepped on” by DAP members.

Disregarding the act by the Perak DAP yesterday, Jamaluddin said: “They are behaving like children, so why should we entertain them?

Disgruntled: Protestors stepping on the poster of Lim in front of the State Assembly building to protest against the Pakatan government in Penang yesterday.

”I’m not angry although I’ve not seen any leaders behaving this way,” he told reporters outside the Sessions Court here. Jamaluddin and Mohd Osman are jointly facing trial for corruption.

At its annual convention on Sun- day, the Perak DAP placed a poster with the faces of Jamaluddin, Mohd Osman and Jelapang assemblyman Hee Yit Foong, formerly with DAP, onto a floor mat for all to step on.

The huge poster was laid at the doorway leading into the convention hall at a hotel here where the convention took place.

While most of the attendees stepped on the poster, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng leapt across it, saying that the faces were too dirty to even step on.

Jamaluddin said being stepped on was nothing new.

“We have been stepped on ever since we were in Pakatan,” he said. “They must have missed stepping all over us in our absence these few months.”

Mohd Osman said the DAP could go ahead and satisfy themselves.

“It’s really nothing to me, it’s not a big deal,” he said.- Star, 1/12/2009, It is a childish act to ‘step on’ us, say ex-PKR reps

Meanwhile in Georgetown, a man said to be a disgruntled resident of Kampung Buah Pala stepped on a poster of Lim Guan Eng and set it on fire during a demonstration by Penang Barisan Nasional Youth outside the State Assembly building.

The incident took place about 12.15pm yesterday at the Penang Municipal Council’s carpark across the road.

More than 100 members from the state Barisan Youth wing, led by its component chiefs Norman Zahalan (Umno), Eng Hiap Boon (MCA), J. Dhinagaran (MIC) and Oh Tong Keong (Gerakan), gathered at the carpark from noon to protest against the state Pakatan Rakyat government’s handling of various issues..- Star, 1/12/2009, It is a childish act to ‘step on’ us, say ex-PKR reps

But, of course stepping on the cow's head (sacred animal of the Hindus), Koran (Holy Book of the Muslims), Bible or cross or picture of Jesus (religious book and symbols of Christians) are wrong for this amounts to incitement of racial animosity, etc BUT stepping on pictures of Chief Ministers, Prime Ministers, Ministers, politicians, local councillors, etc is acceptable in my books...as a form of expression.

Passing of resolutions condemning the demonstration. I have yet to see the resolution but if it was a condemnation of the right to protest and demonstrate, then it is wrong. But, the State do have a right to pass such resolutions for after all they are the state...but the contents are very important..

The Penang legislative assembly today passed a resolution condemning yesterday's demonstration by a group of Barisan Nasional youth leaders and supporters.

DAP backbencher RSN Rayer (Seri Delima) tabled an emergency motion this morning to condemn the 45-minute protest staged outside the august House.

The resolution was passed after all 29 Pakatan Rakyat assemblypersons voted in favour of the motion while 11 Umno assemblypersons were against it.- Malaysiakini, 1/12/2009, BN demo condemned, police report lodged

What should have Lim Guan Eng and the Pakatan Rakyat government of Penang done?

1- If there was a memorandum, letter, etc - accept it.

2- Have a dialogue with the prootesters or their leadership to hear and understand their concerns and views.

3- Respond to the concerns raised explaining the State actions and the reasons for it doing so, whilst agreeing to take into consideration the views expressed. 

4- Thank the police for their respecting the freedom of expression and assembly - hoping that this position would be stance of the police from now on.

Now, if there have been offences committed - i.e. damaging fences, billboards, property...or assaulting someone - then make a police report about that BUT not about the demonstration.

In a protest and/or demonstration, we all know that we cannot control the actions of each and every person, and it is true that some 'naughty persons' or even 'agent provocateurs' will sneak into the crowd and do all kinds of bad things - but this should be blamed on the rest of the peaceful protesters...or the organisers. Remember during the 1998 Reformasi protests, we had similar problems with certain protesters throwing stones at the Bar Council and the Court, burning of motorcycles (the Kg Baru protest), etc..and, I believe that the organizers had no hand in it, and certainly they or the other protesters are not to be blamed for these wrongdoings.

Just because the BN government and the police broke up other protests and demonstrations, used tear gas, water cannons, beat up people, arrested persons, charged them - do not call for the same 'bad' unacceptable treatment when pro-BN anti-PR demonstrations happen. If you do, then you have become no better than the BN... shame on you.

Remember, this is democracy, freedom of expression, freedom of assembly... and, as such, ye who promote this should be seen to be promoting this.

Penang's Foreshore Land Issue : Did the public lose access to a public beach/foreshore?

Did the Penang Pakatan Rakyat government just take away a part of the public beach - and make it private property? Beaches have always been accessible to the public - will it still be here?

By the way, is this declassified minutes available on the Penang State Government website for easy access. Or, is there a need for us to go there and get true 'red-tapes' before we can get access to these declassified minutes? 

I received a comment, that was also posted in my blog under the posting: Make public Cabinet/State Exco Minutes and Decisions - The people have a right to information. No more secrets..

Hope that you will also read it, and give me your feedback. My question is whether members of the public have just lost access to the beach... that part of the foreshore?

The declassified minutes on the conversion of PDC Heritage Hotel released on Saturday by Lim Guan Eng administration reveal that the PDC Heritage Hotel site is a foreshore land.

Foreshore is the area that is exposed to the air at low tide and underwater at high tide. For development on coastal zone, a construction setback of 60 m is normally observed. Setback is a guideline to developers on how far to site permanent structures behind the shoreline in order to avoid problems with short-term coastal response and flooding problems during rough weather.

If strictly follow the guidelines from Department of Drainage and Irrigation Circular 1987, no permanent structures should be permitted within this setback zone.Guidelines for the width of the setback zone arise from Department of Drainage and Irrigation Circular 1987, which specifies 60m on the open coast. The 60 m setback create a costal buffer zone that should be remain in public domain. This coastal buffer zone effectively allow public access to the foreshore.

The land of any development site that fail to observe this requirement should be considered as a foreshore land. Or put it in another word, the land of any development site that fall within the 60 m setback from the foreshore line is consider as a foreshore land.

The minutes on the land conversion reveal that the state legal advisers had reminded LGE that the site is a foreshore land that under the National Land Code proviso, it can not be converted from leasehold to freehold status. In converting the land, Lim Guan Eng has referred to section 76(aa)(iii) of the NLC which says land could be converted “where the State Authority is satisfied that there are special circumstances which render it appropriate to do so” . What is the special circumstances that LGE referred to in justifying the land conversion?

The special circumstances that Lim Guan Eng has cited for justifying the conversion is as follows:
1) That the project was neglected and in an “abandoned” state.
2) That the equity held by PDC has been raised from 49% to 50%
3) That the cost of equity conversion is borne by YTL Hotels & Properties Sdn Bhd

Lim Guan Eng failed to address public concern over the sell of our foreshore land to private interests.
On Oct 15,2008, in a press statement, Lim Guan Eng has promised that the state government would not follow the footstep of his predecessor in circumventing the National Land Code proviso that prohibit the conversion of foreshore land from leasehold to freehold status. The sad truth is that the Chief Minister who once fought alleged land scams committed by the previous state government, is now personally involved in a questionable land conversion. This is a treacherous betrayal on the people by Lim Guan Eng.


Lim Guan Eng hoped by releasing the minutes on the land conversion, he can divert the attention of the people on the questionable land conversion. As usual he took the opportunity to blame Koh Tzu Koon for the land conversion. If Guan Eng sincerely believe that what Koh Tzu Koon did is wrong, he should not go ahead with the land conversion. This is probably the most disturbing incident came after Lim Guan Eng openly promised not to cheat Penangites of their foreshore lands. Disturbing because Lim Guan Eng love to continue what Koh Tzu Koon did, but will blame the later when being criticized for whatever decision he made.

It is important for Penangites to understand why he made the decision that he's made, Lim Guan Eng should walk Penangites through the reasoning why that decision was made. The special circumstances that Guan Eng has referred to is hardly special at all.

Interesting exercise of the freedom of assembly and expression - but alas, news reports do not mention clearly in detail what exactly were they trying to say - OR maybe, they just came to chant slogans and burn posters (nothing wrong with this...), and were just unhappy with the State government over its handling of the issues mentioned in the quote below. What is the substance of their exercise of freedom of assembly and expression? Did they want to express their concerns in greater depth to the Chief Minister?

The protesters also carried banners and placards condemning the state government for failing to resolve issues such as Kampung Buah Pala, Mak Mandin Rumah Hijau and the controversial conversion of a foreshore land status.

Did the protestors want to meet Lim Guan Eng, the Chief Minister? Did they want to hand over a protest note? And did Lim Guan Eng meet up with the protesters and listen to them? Or did he like the BN Ministers, leaders or government department heads just ignore them or maybe 'peeped' from some window? I hope he met with the protesters to listen to their concerns...The Malaysiakini report does not indicate that he met with the protesters - it looks as if he stayed inside, and tried to divert matters like complaining that they were 'aggressive'...and that they tried to destroy some anti-ISA billboard, etc. I sincerely hope that Pakatan Government leaders respond differently and not emulate the bad examples and practices of BN.

Protest staged outside Penang state assembly

Athi Shankar
Nov 30, 09
1:35pm

 

A group of state Barisan Nasional youth leaders and supporters staged a protest outside the Penang legislative assembly this afternoon against the Pakatan Rakyat state government.

The protesters vented their frustration against what they described as an "inefficient and indecisive" state government which failed to resolve the people's problems and fulfill pre-election promises.

Led by Penang Umno Youth chief Norman Zahalan, the protest started at 12.15pm and ended about 45 minutes later.

It took place while the assembly sitting was going on.

The protesters also carried banners and placards condemning the state government for failing to resolve issues such as Kampung Buah Pala, Mak Mandin Rumah Hijau and the controversial conversion of a foreshore land status.

An unidentified protester had stomped and torched a poster of Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.

Penang Gerakan Youth chief Oh Tong Keong later clarified that the protester was not a BN Youth member.

"I tried to stop him but the situation became uncontrollable," he told Malaysiakini.

"We condemn the act of torching the poster. If you have any grievances, you should express it in peaceful way," he added.

CM questions police's 'tolerance'

Meanwhile, Lim who witnessed the demonstration when the assembly rested for lunch questioned the police's 'tolerance'.

"I hope the police would exercise the same tolerance towards other demonstrations," he told reporters.

The chief minister said the Pakatan government was not against people exercising their right to express their disapproval against his administration. However, he alleged that the protesters were aggressive.

"I heard that some of them attempted to break down the anti-ISA billboard erected outside the House. It's an act of political gangsterism," he said.

Also present at the protest was Penang MIC Youth chief J Dhinagaran and his PPP counterpart M Manikumar.

Although no one was detained, Norman however, had his statement recorded at the nearby Lebuh Pantai police station.

He later told reporters that the protest was held on behalf of Penangites to condemn the incompetency of the state government in resolving many contentious issues in the state in the past 20 months.

"The state government is keen in politicking and slandering the previous BN administration with lies. It's a demonstration of public dissatisfaction against the Pakatan government.

"It (the state government) is inefficient, incompetent and lacks the experience and maturity to run the state," he said.

Dhinagaran said if the state government leaders felt that they lacked experience and political conviction to administer, then they should resign en bloc and pave way for fresh polls.

The Pakatan state government was also urged to administer the state instead of always blaming the previous administration.

The chief minister's political secretary Ng Wei Aik claimed that he was verbally abused with foul language by the noisy protestors.

"I told them to show some respect to the on-going assembly sitting and refrain from using vulgar words. But I was verbally abused in return," he said.- Malaysiakini, 30/11/2009, Protest staged outside Penang state assembly

The Malaysiakini reporter also spend too much time on side matters like the burning of LGE's posters, not reporting in depth the reasons for their unhappiness about the Penang State government's handling of the Kampung Buah Pala, Mak Mandin Rumah Hijau and the controversial conversion of a foreshore land status - but not what they wanted now to be done about that. Or was the protesters call only for the resignations and new elections?

Kg Buah Pala:- Did Guan Eng abandoned them when they refused to take the offer...or when they went to BN? Penang Government must stand with the people

I am concerned about Penang Chief Minister's recently reported statement concerning Kg Buah Pala...

Firstly, he talks about the State "...government’s mediator role between the Kampung Buah Pala residents as well as the landowner and developer is as good as over." Surely, the State Government who is all powerful with regard to Land matters, development permits/licenses should not be playing a mere 'mediator' role, they should be resolving the problem of the people. [An NGO, an individual, some political party, some social movement could be said to be playing 'mediator roles' but certainly not the Penang State government]

Secondly, he says that the matter is over because:- "...Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said that as far as the state was concerned, the matter ended when some of the villagers sought help from Barisan Nasional...." The people...especially desperate people would do everything possible - go to whoever for help to resolve the problems they face. The fact is that Pakatan Rakyat is the current government of Penang, and they do have the power, capacity and ability to resolve this problem. They are best placed to resolve the problem - not the BN. [But, the the BN can also do something...i.e. maybe convince the currently registered 'owners' of the land to agree to transfer the home and the lands occupied by the residents of Kg Buah Pala...or maybe, even get the registered 'owners'/developers to make a better proposal for the residents to take..]

The Penang government’s mediator role between the Kampung Buah Pala residents as well as the landowner and developer is as good as over.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said that as far as the state was concerned, the matter ended when some of the villagers sought help from Barisan Nasional.

“We (the state) have done our part and as far as we are concerned, the matter is over. Since they have gone to see Barisan Nasional, the matter ends there,” he told reporters at a Ramadan aid presentation to mosques at Politeknik Seberang Prai here yesterday.

On Wednesday, Kampung Buah Pala Residents’ Association committee chairman M. Sugumaran handed over an eight-page memorandum to Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin at the Permatang Pauh Barisan Nasional operations centre.

Sugumaran told Muhyiddin that only Barisan could help resolve their problem, noting that the state government had merely made empty promises to them.

He also said he hoped Muhyiddin would shed some light on the matter since land issues were generally under the federal government’s purview.

Lim said the move to meet Muhyiddin merely validated the state’s concern that the residents could have been used by certain quarters or that they might have a political agenda.

“Why see the people who have actually robbed your land? Up till now, they have not repented or apologised to the villagers for robbing their land,” he said.

Lim said he did not understand why the residents were doing this, noting that he believed that their actions spoke for themselves. He said that while Barisan did not do anything for the residents, the Pakatan Rakyat-led state government helped them obtain an offer of double-storey terrace houses with a 99-year lease title.

“Barisan Nasional wanted to treat them as squatters and wanted to chase them out. And now they are going back to seek assistance from the robbers who robbed their land,” he said.

The residents have until Aug 31 to vacate the over 100-year-old village in Bukit Gelugor before the developer Nusmetro Ventures (P) Sdn Bhd starts pulling down their houses from Sept 1. - Star, 21/8/2009, Guan Eng: Kampung Buah Pala issue is over

But, then did not Guan Eng and the Penang Government abandon the people of Kg Buah Pala when they refused the registered 'owners'/developer's offer of a double-storey terrace house for each family...

Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said today he would have no further meetings with the residents of Kampung Buah Pala after they rejected an offer of a double-storey terrace house for each family.

He said the demand by residents for compensation of RM3.5 million each instead of the double-storey house negotiated by the states was unacceptable.

“Perhaps the residents should ask around to see if Penangites would support their demand.

“We understand their predicament but there is only so much the government can do to help them,” he said today.

The Kampung Buah Pala issue has dogged Lim’s administration in recent weeks after the issue was turned into a racial dispute with Hindraf leaders accusing the state of helping to destroy what they claim was an Indian heritage area.

The controversy took a farcical turn with Hindraf recently saying it had made an appeal to Unesco to revoke Georgetown’s heritage city status for allowing Kampung Buah Pala – a settlement of cowherds – to be destroyed.

Kampong Buah Pala sits on former plantation land which the former colonial owners had given in trust to its former workers to live on when they left the state.

The British colonial government acted as trustees, but the land was signed away back to the state during independence, and the descendents of the original settlers had been allowed to stay on what had become temporary occupational license (TOL) land.

During the previous Barisan Nasional (BN) administration, the land was sold, and the current owners won a court decision recently to evict the villagers in order to develop high-rise apartments.

Lim said today that he believed the Penang public was angry at the latest development in the controversy since the villagers had rejected the offer from the developer.

“Don’t forget we’re trying to offer you a house.

“Now we even have people from Selangor speaking on behalf of the residents. Maybe they can fight for them and demand for a RM3.5mil house.

“Those outsiders, they have their own houses to go back to. Even some of the residents’ association members have other houses,” he said.

Commenting on the residents’ reasons for not accepting the offer, he explained that they appeared to be unhappy with a clause inserted in the proposed agreement which was meant to protect the rights of the developer.

The clause in question states that the agreement would be null and void if it could not obtain the state government’s approval to build the houses.

“If they want to build and the state government does not allow, they will then be sued by the residents.

“Do you think we will reject or revoke building plans for the 24 houses when we are the ones who found the formula to resolve the issue?” he said. - Malaysian Insider, 8/8/2009, Guan Eng washes his hands off Buah Pala after residents reject homes

If, so this means that around 8/8/2009, the Pakatan Rakyat State government abandoned the people of Kg Buah Pala - and, if so, can we really blame them for turning to the Opposition, i.e. the UMNO-led BN?

Media - they have been known to be biased, and I would doubt the reports and hope that Lim Guan Eng and the Pakatan Rakyat government of Penang clarify their position.

I also hope that Guan Eng and the Pakatan Rakyat government of Penang would do the needful to stop the proposed eviction and demolition of homes scheduled for 1/9/2009.

Kg Buah Pala - Is the Pakatan Rakyat with the people of Kg Buah Pala, or with the Developers?

Kg Buah Pala ... raises a lot of interesting issues. Why? Because in Malaysia, there are a lot of people who are and have been living on land that legally is not registered in their name. There is no issue, and the government do most of the time ensures that they do get roads (tarred roads even), piped water, electricity, etc... but do nothing to make sure that they get the title to the land they live and work on.

Kg Buah Pala - it is not just a question of new hopes, but also the question about land for the grazing of their cattle...The cows, I do believe, is an important source of income. That is why I believe that giving them just an 'expensive' house as compensation would not do..

As a matter of policy, State governments must not hand over land on which there are people living and/or earning a living to some other....

It is happening not only in Kg Buah Pala... I believe that this is also predicament faced by some Malaysian Chinese farmers in Perak, and other parts of Malaysia.

As a matter of principle, land that has been used by farmers for the cultivation of vegetables, etc should also be given to these farmers for that purpose...

There can always be conditions placed on these leases - conditions that it be used for the purpose given, and conditions that it cannot be transferred and/or sold without government permission. This should also be the condition imposed on those who have got lost-cost homes, or will get low cost-homes in the future...

Plantation land was given at a very nominal rate by State governments for the planting of rubber (and then oil palm) ...i.e. agriculture. When these big plantation companies now want to convert these land for commercial/housing, this should not be allowed by the State government. But alas State Government allows this ....and plantation companies like Guthrie did sell off land at a rate of 100s of thousands per acre... [The cost they can demand is high because they have a very big plot of land - something they got because they were going to plant rubber/oil palm...]. I believe, that the formerly Bukit Tinggi Estate land was sold at about RM300,000 per acre...

State government have been lax with all the big and rich companies and persons - but behaves differently when it comes to the poor people... Seeing how the courts, police, etc were all on the side of the Developer, and not on the side of the people just shows how things are...Now, police says that 'outsiders' should not get involved. Unless, these 'outsiders' come forward in support of the 'weaker' people of Kg Buah Pala - the rich with its cronies will certainly bull-doze away their homes and their rights. Remember, there is also an appeal to the Federal Court that is yet to be heard...

St John's Chapel issue in Triang is just like the Kg Buah Pala case - here the case involves an 80 over years church of the Catholic community in Triang - and they are far from being the rich and powerful. And here again, the State government tries to demolish this church...see earlier posts:

An article from Star that one should read...

The cheap sale of the ‘High Chaparral’ is a clear example of how land is very questionably alienated to the detriment of those occupying them.

AT THE time of writing, the bulldozers were standing ready to demolish the over-150-year-old Kampung Buah Pala residential area which is occupied by descendents of Indian indentured labourers, who, among other things, graze cattle there.

The 40-odd families are making a last-ditch stand against the developers Numestro Venture (P) Sdn Bhd who are in joint venture with landowners Koperasi Pegawai Kerajaan Pulau Pinang.

The train of events indicates a sorry tale of unfair deprivation of their land through questionable means although many, including Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, dismiss the residents as a mercenary lot holding out for higher prices.

That no one, including the new Penang state government, whose members promised to stop the development if they came to power, could do anything to help the residents is a real pity and reflects poorly on the processes by which land is alienated and allocated in our country.

Kampung Buah Pala raises a series of questions the answers to which will pin the blame squarely on those responsible, establish clearly whether there was a breach of law and by whom, and lead to a more equitable solution which will take into account the fact that the current residents can trace their ancestry on the land back to at least five generations.

It is useful to trace the events that led to this standoff. We have depended on press reports. In 2004 and 2005, the Penang state executive council then approved the sale of the 2ha-plus land at a premium of RM20 a sq ft or RM6.42mil to the Penang government officers’ cooperative.

This was halved to RM10 per sq ft or RM3.21mil in 2007. The current value of the land is estimated at as much as RM40mil, over a dozen times the price the state government got. This implies that the land was allocated at a tiny fraction of the market value.

Question 1: Why was it allocated so cheaply and who was responsible?

Apparently, the cooperative entered into a joint-venture with Nusmetro to develop the land into high-end luxury condominiums.

The villagers, who trace their ancestry on the land back 150-200 years then sued the cooperative and the developers, claiming that they were given the right to stay there. Their ancestors were indentured labourers brought in by the East India Company to work for the Brown Estate.

The owner and employer, Helen Margaret Brown, settled them in separate plots of land with space to rear cows and goats, and to plant fruit trees and the land became categorised as a housing trust, the villagers maintained.

Question 2: Why were the villagers not offered the right to purchase the land at the same price the cooperative paid when it is beyond dispute that the villagers and their ancestors have stayed in the same area for 150-200 years?

The villagers were not so lucky when they took their case to court. Initially, the High Court ruled in their favour last year but in May it was overturned by the Court of Appeal. They took their case to the Federal Court but lost it in June.

They have now applied for a revision of the Federal Court judgment that ruled against them and the application is fixed for mention on Aug 18, according to press reports.

Records at the Companies Commission indicate that Nusmetro is a dormant company with an issued capital of a mere RM250,000. It is in turn majority-owned by a company called Asia Link-Up (240,000 of the 250,000 shares), another dormant company.

Question 3: Why is the Penang government officers’ cooperative going into joint venture to build high-end condominiums with companies which clearly have no ability to do so? Who is responsible for this?

Residents are now questioning the Penang state government’s failure to invoke Section 116 (d) of the National Land Code although the state government said a month ago that it could stop any demolition attempt at Kampung Buah Pala.

According to the clause, any building on alienated land cannot be demolished without approval of the relevant authority.

Residents maintained that Chief Minister Lim had assured the residents that if the villagers rejected the offer, the state would file an application in court to invoke Section 116 (d).

Question 4: Why has the Penang state government not invoked Section 116 to protect the villagers?

Obviously, there are a lot of questions which demand answers and there is a great chance of impropriety indicating that the land could have been unfairly taken away from the villagers. Our courts have not shown themselves to be particularly sympathetic to aggrieved parties as indicated by this case and others.

Perhaps it is not in their power to investigate. However, a report has already been lodged with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Agency (MACC). But so far, MACC has not approached the developer of the Kampung Buah Pala land for questioning although “graft reports over the land transaction were filed separately last month by Deputy Chief Minister (II) Dr P. Ramasamy and political secretary to the chief minister, Ng Wei Aik”, according to news reports.

“The MACC has not come to us for any investigation,” Nusmetro managing director Thomas Chan was quoted as having said when queried by reporters.

Question 5: When there is urgent public interest to be served and when the fate of over 40 families hangs in the balance, why has the MACC not investigated this case and urgently?

This is important because if it is established that the transfer of the land is fraudulent, then the transfer may not be valid.

Clearly, residents are getting the wrong end of the stick here, notwithstanding Lim’s attempt to negotiate a settlement for them, demanding that their lawyers not be present. That is a strange request for laymen to come to a complicated negotiation without the benefit of lawyers.

At the time of finishing this article, the bailiff ended the standoff by deferring it to the end of the month on humanitarian grounds and to avoid bloodshed. That’s wise, but still there is a crying need for a just solution.

No matter how the issue eventually ends, one thing is abundantly clear – there are many fishy deals on land and it is more than time we put a stop to all that.

Managing editor P. Gunasegaram says that land is a dwindling resource that the government must guard carefully, give to the right people and get a good price for. - Star, 14/8/2009, Case of a severe land malady - By P. GUNASEGARAM

Anil Netto also raises questions in his blog:-

It’s like a bad dream… but it’s more than that. At least with a nightmare, we can soon forget about it. But no matter how hard we try, Kg Buah Pala won’t go away. When an injustice has been perpetrated, it will fester like an open sore, causing the entire body pain and anguish. In our anguish, the questions linger:

Why is it taking so long for the MACC to carry out its investigations after several reports have been lodged?

What is the outcome of the probe into the land deal by the Penang state government’s investigative committee?

Why are Koh Tsu Koon, his former deputies and those in charge of land deals back then not shedding more light into this fiasco? Why was prime land sold for peanuts?

Why is Mohd Faridz Karim, the main shareholder of Asia Link-up Sdn Bhd (the parent company of Nusmetro Ventures (P) Sdn Bhd) keeping very quiet?

How was MPPP permission given before the land title was registered in the name of the Koperasi?

Why is the Koperasi proceeding with its condo development plan with Nusmetro when there is a restriction on the temporary land title forbidding any transactions? - Anil Netto's Blog - Kg Buah Pala just won't leave us alone

See also the ALIRAN article..

In many ways, Kg Buah Pala reminds us of the life-style we once had - but have now all but lost in our anonymous concrete jungles, observes Anil Netto.

Yesterday's unsuccessful demolition of Kg Buah Pala revealed how strongly the villagers feel for their homes and the affinity they have for the land.

Women, men and children marched up to confront grunting bulldozers and a menacing demolition team backed by red-helmeted riot police. The developer and his team were clearly taken aback by the resilience and determination the villagers displayed in defending their homes.

The legal technicalities aside, few outsiders can understand what the Kg Buah Pala residents are going through. Some may say the villagers have been manipulated by BN politicians to hold out for a higher offer of compensation.

But the reality is that the villagers do not seem to be the least bit interested - even with the compensation offer of "double-storey terrace houses", which on the surface appears reasonable. Many Penangites were thus baffled - even outraged - that many villagers rejected the offer. "What do they want? Why are they so greedy?" These were the indignant questions asked.

What do they want? From the looks of it: all they want is to be left alone. They would much rather live in their old wooden houses perched on hillocks covered in lush greenery and surrounded by coconut, neem and rambutan trees - like they and their ancestors have done for more than a century. Not far away, cows and goats, munching grass, gaze curiously at passers-by.

It's a community where everyone knows most of the other village-folk; they may have their differences, but it is their community, their village, their life. Compared to the rustic village houses they have there - and without romanticising it - "double-storey terrace houses" may not seem as attractive as they might be for other urban dwellers.

In many ways, Kg Buah Pala reminds us of the life-style we once had - but have now all but lost. In our grey concrete jungles and mass housing estates, community life has all but evaporated. In guarded and gated condominium complexes and housing estates, most middle-class Malaysians would be hard pressed to know those beyond their immediate neighbours, whom they greet with polite "hellos".

We have exchanged the greenery for concrete. We no longer know how to grow our food and rear livestock to supplement our daily needs. We have forgotten what it feels like to live off the land, in a community - to experience the scent of fresh coconuts, to savour the tranquil sight of a village well, brimming with clear water, and to gaze at deep red rambutans bursting from a towering tree.

Places like Kg Buah Pala remind us of what we have lost. It would be a pity if the entire village itself has to make way for yet another luxury condominium complex in our unsustainable and often soulless concrete jungle.- Kg Buah Pala: Oasis amidst concrete jungle

The small people of Malaysia are watching and seeing how Pakatan Rakyat deals with this issue...

It seems that the Developer seems to be resolving to a divide and destroy strategy - and now we have 4 have accepted the offer, and have abandoned the rest of families behind. It is indeed sad - for, I believe, the people should have stood united in all that they decide to do...Complicity of the state in this matter is disturbing..

Four of the 24 Kampung Buah Pala houseowners have agreed to the compensation offered by developer Nusmetro Ventures (P) Sdn Bhd.

Seri Delima assemblyman R.S.N. Rayer said the four signed the agreement last Friday before the offer expired on noon that day.

“Initially, 15 houseowners agreed to the offer but only four turned up to sign the deal at Deputy Chief Minister II Prof Dr P. Ramasamy’s office.

“It is most unfortunate that the rest who did not sign have prepare for the worst,” he said last night. - Star, 11/8/2009, Kg Buah Pala: Four accept house offer by developer

It seems that Pakatan Rakyat government of Pulau Pinang is saying ' Take the Developer's Offer and abandon your homes...."

Were there any Wakil Rakyat from the Pakatan Rakyat on site when the Developer (with the Court Bailiff and the police) were there recently threatening to demolish the hopes of the RAKYAT of Kg Buah Pala.... (If they were, I hope some reader will post a comment to state that the PR MPs/ADUNs were there with the people preventing the demolition of their homes....)

2nd Burmese dies in ' unhygienic' Malaysian Detention Centres - Leptospirosis

Sa La Hin, 26, and Thang Hoih Ping, 21, both human persons from Burma, are dead. They died in the last few days in Malaysia in a Immigration Department Detention Centre in Juru, Penang ...and what is sad is that they may have by reason of the unhygienic conditions in the Detention Centre, by reason of the lack or inadequate healthcare at this Detention Centres.

Sa La Hin, 26, and Thang Hoih Ping, 21, - are they really undocumented migrants.

Or, are they really refugees and asylum seekers who ran to Malaysia for fear of their lives and liberty..for fear of that 'evil' Burmese Military Junta that has already deprived the freedom of Aung San Suu Kyi [ see earlier post:- Now, 23 say: Withdraw Suu Kyi's Absurd Charge, and Release All Political Prisoners in Burma ]

Or, are they persons who their employer is holding their passport, when they were arrested and detained by reason of not being able to show the RELA (or the police or the immigration enforcement officer) their passport? And many an employer or 'some outsourcing company' will not come and do the needful speedily to release their migrant workers - more so during this period of economic crisis.

A second Burmese in the Juru detention camp in Central Seberang Prai here has died of Leptospirosis.

Immigration Department director-general Abdul Rahman Othman said that the immigrant, Sa La Hin, 26, who had been detained in the camp since January, succumbed to the contagious bacterial disease late Sunday at the Bukit Mertajam Hospital.

Last Tuesday, Myanmar detainee Thang Hoih Ping, 21, died of the disease in the same hospital following an outbreak in the camp.

Abdul Rahman said that as at 11am Tuesday, 24 detainees were still warded, including one in the Seberang Jaya Hospitals intensive care unit.

Of the 24 detainees, 22 are Myanmar nationals and two are Bangladeshis. - Star, 19/5/2009, Leptospirosis kills 2nd Myanmar illegal immigrant

Leptospirosis - usually caused by exposure to water contaminated with the urine of infected animals, such as rodents, cattle, pigs, horses, dogs and wild animals. Does that not tell you about the state of hygine in the Juru Detention Centre, that is in the Pakatan Rakyat ruled State of Penang. Maybe, the State Government should be held responsible for the conditions of Detention Centres in their own State. [Of course, the Chief Minister of Penang may come out and say that these centres are under the control of the BN Federal Government - but I say, the State Government also has to bear the responsibility of matters that are within the State boundaries. Remember, Malaysia is a Federation of States...and States are sovereign territories, and always have the option to remain in the Federation or not - and this gives the State great powers..which it should use for betterment of the State, its people...and conditions of Detention places in the State..]

Leptospirosis outbreaks are usually caused by exposure to water contaminated with the urine of infected animals, such as rodents, cattle, pigs, horses, dogs and wild animals.

Well prepared: A Rela member wearing a face mask while guarding one of the illegal immigrant blocks at the Juru detention camp in Bukit Mertajam Sunday.

People become infected through consumption or contact with urine-contaminated water, food or soil.

On May 7, a Myanmar detainee took ill and died five days later of a bacterial infection at the Bukit Mertajam Hospital. Since then 36 others took ill and were hospitalised for treatment.

There are 552 illegal immigrants in the camp comprising 478 males, 72 females and two male children.- Star, 18/5/2009, 13 illegals discharged

The good that has come out of this tragedy and humiliation is that finally there is begining of a serious concern about healthcare...hygine..food, which I hope is not merely temporary but will be made permanent...

Deeply concerned over the situation, Abdul Rahman [Immigration Department director-general] ordered all migrant detention camps in the country to increase hygiene standards and cleanliness levels, including the preparation of food and drinks.

“We have yet to obtain an official report from the Health department on the two deaths as well as the actual cause of the outbreak.

“However, we have taken precautionary measures by stationing a medical team on daily shift duty at the Juru camp to closely monitor the situation,” he said.

Not ruling out the possibility that the disease could have been transmitted from the immigrants, Abdul Rahman said that according to standard operating procedures, a medical officer usually visited the camp once a week.

However, since the outbreak, the department had opened the doors of its detention camps nationwide for health officials to come in and provide necessary medical assistance, he said. - - Star, 19/5/2009, Leptospirosis kills 2nd Myanmar illegal immigrant

Cleanliness and hygiene at immigration depots nationwide are to be stepped-up to ensure safety of staff and inmates there against contracting infectious diseases, Immigration Director-General Abdul Rahman said today.

He said this was in addition to the scheduled checks conducted by the Health Department to ensure the depots met the health and hygiene standards and to prevent the spread of infectious diseases.

"We have the cooperation of the Health Ministry to monitor cleanliness and hygiene at our depots nationwide and there is no need for the public to worry," he told a press conference at the Penang Immigration head office here today. - Bernama, 19/5/2009, Cleanliness, Hygiene At Immigration Depot To Be Stepped Up

I believe that once a week visit of a medical officer is really insufficient for Detention Centres ...Maybe, there should be a permanent presence of a medical office (if not a doctor, at the very least a medical assistant), and the doctor could visit once every day for a few hours daily to deal with the more serious cases, beyond the expertise of the medical assistant..) . It is important to have persons who speak detainee language/s to translate to the medical staff.

Maybe, new detainees should be isolated until they could be tested for TB and other transmitable diseases. Tubercolosis (or Batuk Kering) is an example of a disease that can be easily transmitted to other living within close proximity like in these Immigration Detention Centres.

Once in 2 week visits should also be conducted by the health officer - who will be tasked to review state of hygine of the Detention Centre, and all other related matters, including food. Food and food preparation must also be reviewed.

And, if it was the food caterers, that are to be blamed - we must not just stop with the termination of the contract...but there must be legal action, criminal or otherwise...

He [Immigration Department director-general Abdul Rahman Othman] also said the Juru camp’s catering tender might be reviewed if the cause of the outbreak pointed to contamination of its food and drinks. - Star, 19/5/2009, Leptospirosis kills 2nd Myanmar illegal immigrant

The immigration DG says that overcrowding is not a reason for the spread of the disease...because only slightly overcrowded by 53 (Hello...when we say slightly overcrowded, we are talking about 4 to 9 maybe...)

Look also at the picture above, which shows how these migrants are kept...If they are staying in 'cages' like this, there is a serious need to review conditions of these detention centres.

Abdul Rahman, however, discarded over-crowding as among the reasons for the widespread of the disease, noting that the Juru detention camp merely had an additional 53 detainees compared to its 500 detainee-capacity. - Star, 19/5/2009, Leptospirosis kills 2nd Myanmar illegal immigrant

See also earlier related posts including:-

Now migrants are dying in Detention Centres because of diseases transmitted by 'animal urine contaminated water'...

SUHAKAM: "...denial of medical attention.. a serious violation of that person’s right to life..."

It was already a shocker when SUHAKAM (Malaysia's Human Rights Commission) told us that "ABOUT 1,300 illegal foreigners have died during detention in the past six years, Malaysia Nanban quoted Malaysian Human Rights (Suhakam) commissioner Datuk N. Siva Subramaniam as saying.He said many of them died in immigration detention centres, prisons and police lockups because they were denied medical treatment at the right time.-Star, 18/12/2008 - 1,300 foreign detainees died due to neglect

SUHAKAM views the denial of medical attention to the point of endangering one’s life as a serious violation of that person’s right to life.- - letter of SUHAKAM to the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) dated 13/1/2009

Penang: PR: 28[70%], BN:11, Vacant:1(Penanti) - So, stronger PR government OR more check and balance?

Let us look at the Penang State Assembly

Total Number of Seats:- 40

Pakatan Rakyat Seats :- 28
DAP - 19
PAS - 1
PKR - 8

Barisan Nasional (BN) Seats: 11

* Empty seat :- 1 ( Penanti - waiting to be filled)

(At present, PR with 28 seats has 70% - more than 2/3, which I believe is enough to make amendments to the State Constitution - which, I wonder why they have not done yet? Is the State Constitution perfect? I do not think so - they could include basic rights - like food, shelter, clothing, water, education, etc...and more...)

In short, the winning of the seat by a PR candidate does nothing for the status quo...

It is very clear that the Pakatan Rakyat government has a very strong majority...

Hence, for the purpose of 'check and balance' in Penang, maybe we need to vote in more opposition..

But, the BN now is the Opposition in Penang - but, I say do not vote for the BN but maybe for some other party candidate, who is not in BN or PKR, OR some Independent candidate...

Now, who do we have left? Maybe, Parti Rakyat Malaysia (PRM)... for after all, they did indicate their interest in running for in the coming by-election of the Penanti seat. See earlier post:-PRM has declared their decision to contest in the Penanti by-elections [It saddened me to see that many a alternative media, I believe also Malaysiakini, did not carry the PRM Statement].

Parti Rakyat Malaysia :- They did join the Parti Keadilan, and become Parti Keadilan Rakyat. But, it seems that some of the members did not, and they have subsequently revived the old Parti Rakyat Malaysia(PRM), which was never de-registered apparently. Now some of the members, who are now in PKR, have gone to court in an attempt to de-register this PRM - and I say, do not do this. It is already so difficult to register a new political party - and, as such, please discontinue the attempt to deregister PRM. Let it exist...and continue to exist. Its continued existence, I believe, will not prejudice PKR today. There are so many important battles to fight - and this attempt to 'kill' of PRM is not one of of these important struggles...

What about PSM (Parti Sosialis Malaysia)? Have they joined the Pakatan Rakyat? Are they the part of the Pakatan Rakyat? They currently have an MP (i.e. Sungei Siput - Dr Kumar Devaraj), and an ADUN in Selangor (Dr Nasir Hashim, who is also President of PSM). Is PSM now in the Pakatan Rakyat?

An independent candidate - why not? If there is some credible person.

Penang...oh Penang - let the people choose their Senators...

Senators should be elected...by the rakyat of the States (not just chosen by the State Legislative Assembly) or appointed..

Even if you do not want a election now ....at the very least conduct a referendum to get the peoples' views on who should be a Senator..

Pakatan Rakyat must not be like the BN - appointing Senators...

Return power to the people - let them have a right to choose who should be their Senators...

Shame on you Penang...

News Flash by Penang State Government in Georgetown on Thursday, 2^nd April 2009:

Tunku Abdul Aziz dicalonkan sebagai Ahli Dewan Negara

Kerajaan Pulau Pinang akan mengemukakan Naib Pengerusi Kebangsaan Parti DAP Tunku Abdul Aziz Ibrahim dan bekas Pengerusi Pulau Pinang Parti Keadilan Rakyat Dr Mansor Othman dilantik sebagai Ahli Dewan Negara pada sesi Dewan Undangan Negeri yang akan datang.

Kekosongan ini timbul dari tempoh tamat perkhidmatan Dato' Omar bin Hj Faudzar dan Dato' Gooi Hoe Hin pada 30 Mei 2009.

Tunku Abdul Aziz merupakan bekas naib presiden organisasi antarabangsa terkenal Transparency International (TI). Beliau seorang tokoh aktivis Melayu berprofil tinggi dalam bidang kempen ketelusan dan integriti. Beliau dilantik sebagai naib pengerusi parti DAP pada Ogos 2008.

---

* Penang State Government- DAP Malaysia Website

Pakatan Rakyat must do things differently from BN or else...

When a community chooses an ADUN and a MP - then rightfully this person/s must be there in the various councils, committees, etc which looks into the area he/she is the elected rep.

BN excluded the Opposition MPs/ADUNs - but the Opposition must not do the same.

The choice of the people must be respected - the Elected Rep must not be ignored be it at the ADUN level or the MP level.

He must be provided the required avenue to provide inputs and ideas, etc -- as the representative of the local community...

BUT alas it seems that the Pakatan Rakyat is doing just the same thing as the BN government previously...and this is so sad.

The PR Government must take this opportunity in government to create new standards, new norms, new ways of doing things, etc ...Remember '...Do unto others what you want others to do upon you..."

Jasmin Mohamed (left) (Umno - Sungai Dua) ticked off Phee Boon Poh (DAP - Sungai Puyu) for not compelling the state government to include Barisan Nasional elected representatives in the various district development councils in the state, something Phee had actively preached for in the previous assembly term.

The Umno opposition man chided Phee for preaching one thing during his tenure as state opposition leader (2004 - 08) and practicing something else after becoming part of the state administration after the March 8 general election.

He rapped Phee, who is in charge of the Health, Welfare and Caring Society portfolio, for keeping mum over the Pakatan Rakyat government's alleged excluding of opposition members from the councils when he had previously kicked up a fuss when the BN government did the same.

"Why did YB Sungai Puyu fail to compel the state government to include Umno assemblymen in the councils?" Jasmin asked the House when debating the state's 2009 Budget tabled by Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng (DAP - Sungai Dua). - Malaysiakini, 18/11/2008 - DAP rep told to 'practice what you preach'

Pakatan Rakyat must do things differently from BN or else...the rakyat may start looking for a NEW Alternative...

PR Penang State government wastes money and time for overseas trip for 52 to S.Korea...

Wasting the peoples' money is wrong. The quantum is immaterial. BN may have squandered billions, but it cannot justify Pakatan squandering even thousands.

A good question for Lim Guan Eng - Why send 52 persons for a 5 day 'trade-mission' to South Kora? How much did the State spend? Who were in this large delegation? How were they chosen? Were they Pakatan cronies? Did the wife pay for herself?

The state government came under fire from local BN leaders, especially from Umno and Gerakan, for allegedly wasting public funds in an unusually large 52-person trade delegation to South Korea for a five-day trip beginning Oct 27.

They also questioned the reasons for Lim to take along his wife, Betty Chew, Deputy Chief Minister Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin and parliamentarians Jeff Ooi, who is the state industrial relations coordinator and an InvestPenang director, Liew Chin Tong, to South Korea. - Malaysiakini, 2/11/2008 - Lim defends Korean trade mission

I read the Malaysiakini report entitled "Lim defends Korean trade mission" but alas, it looked very much like any other BN politician.

Distract-- he talked about "He said the critics, mainly Barisan Nasional politicians, should have instead saved their time and energy to scrutinise and criticise the RM23.7 billion wastage caused by three major scandals recently...."

Not really respond - Reading the report, I am sad to say that the questions have not been answered. When asked to divulge the BUDGET - he procrastinated, saying that some other will provide answers in a few days. Come now - is he not the Chief Minister. Are we not in an age when it is so easy to communicate and get necessary information?

And most shocking was that the trip had only managed to get some money to build a GOLF COURSE....

Lim said BN politicians should have criticised those scandals if they were serious and sincere to wiping out wastage and leakages of public funds, instead of disapproving his Far East delegation, which had secured a RM100 million Korean investment to construct a golf course in the Batu Kawan parliamentary constituency.- Malaysiakini, 2/11/2008 - Lim defends Korean trade mission

I think Kit Siang would also not be able to defend what Guan Eng did here....this nice 5 day trip to South Korea for 52 persons. I only hoped that they did not use State Money to pay for the 52.

Maybe the Malaysiakini report was not complete and accurate - BUT tell me where I can find out the truth about this 'scandal'

Why appointment - not elections of Local Council members? Why appointment of PR members not appointment irrespective of party affliations..

What happened to the election of local council members.... so they, the DAP-led government also follows the BN way and appoints its own political party members as local councillors.. Just get on with the elections - and if you cannot have local council election by reason of some provision in a Federal Law --- then you still can go for a "referendum" or a "poll" to enable the rakyat to choose their own local council members. Pakatan Rakyat local council members: "Of the 43 appointed councilors, DAP has 19, PKR 15 and PAS two" ...is this not how the BN does it in the states they control. Even if there was to be an appointment of temporary council members pending local council elections, it should never be based on political party affiliations at all.. The Malaysian people voted for CHANGE - REAL CHANGE... and even Penang led by Lim Guan Eng is already disappointing us... just like George Orwell's 'Animal Farm". MORE DEMOCRACY please - elections of local council members, election of Penghulus, election of the JKKK and the JKKKT, the later being the leaders at the Kampung and the Taman levels... Penang groups unhappy with new Pakatan councillors

Athi Veeranggan | Apr 19, 08 2:10pm

The Penang Pakatan Rakyat government's populist agenda to appoint representatives from non-governmental organisation as councillors in local authorities seems to have backfired. The DAP-led government came under fire from a group of NGOs for not fulfilling its promise to appoint at least 10 municipal councillors from the civil society. By appointing only seven councillors from the NGOs, the group spokesperson BK Ong said the DAP-led government had squandered the public trust by making a blatant mistake. "The state government promised 10 but only appointed seven and that too, not on merit. "The NGO appointments were dominated by business groups which had caused imbalanced appointment," said Ong. He criticised the Pakatan Rakyat government of continuing the previous Barisan Nasional administration by giving councillor jobs to "boys" rather than giving the posts on merit. Ong blasted the state government for emulating a failed BN method which he claimed would subsequently produce weak councillors and give rise to longkang (drainage) assemblypersons and members of Parliament. Too many business people On Wednesday, the Penang government appointed four councillors from the civil society groups in the Penang Island Municipal Council (MPPP) and three in the Seberang Perai Municipal Council (MPSP). The MPPP four are Women's Centre for Change (WCC) lawyer Lim Kah Cheng, Universiti Sains Malaysia professor Dr Francis Loh Kok Wah, Penang Malay Chamber of Commerce president Rizal Faris Mohideen Abdul Kader and Penang Chinese Chamber of Commerce representative Choong Khuat Seng. The three in MPSP are Chinese Chamber's Liu Ting Ling, Indian Chamber of Commerce's R Gunasegaran and Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers' Muhammad Ismail. MPPP has 22 appointed councillors while MPSP has 21. Of the 43 appointed councillors, DAP has 19, PKR 15 and PAS two. Ong lamented over the "over-representation" of businessmen could cause an unbalanced council and conflict of interests since members of chambers were often involved in applying for business operational licences and building permits. "This could cause injustice to the laymen," said Ong, speaking on the behalf of the NGOs, including Save Ourselves, Bus Users Group, Malaysian Voters Union, Penang Watch, Mafrel, Suaram, Jim, United Hindu Religious Council, Tanjung Bungah Residential Association and Tanjung Workers Service Centre. In contrast, he said there was lack of representation, or none, from house buyers, residents associations, consumer groups, workers' union and petty traders. "Even women were under-represented in appointments," said Ong, suggesting that the representation should have been as high as one per three ratio. Ong also blasted the state government's lack of transparency in the selection process, saying that it mirrored the previous BN government. DAP members left out He said the state government should have adopted an open selection system such as open invitation, open criteria, open process and open list of candidates even when local government elections could not been held straight away. Ong's open criticism is the last that State Executive Councillor and Penang DAP chairperson Chow Kon Yeow, who is in charge of Local Government portfolio, would want as the state government was already under fire from DAP members on the appointment of councillors from NGOs and "strangers" under the party quota. Disgruntled DAP members have informed Malaysiakini that they had been against the appointment of NGO councillors from the beginning as many of them would not work in the interests of the Pakatan Rakyat state government. Several short messages service (SMS) were already sent out since Wednesday night criticising the state government leaders for overlooking loyal party workers for council appointments. Several assemblypersons have also been singled out by the powerful Makkal Sakti lobbyists in Penang for appointing their "cronies" as councillors at the expense of loyal party members, who had worked hard to secure the party's victory in the recent general election. "Several of the appointed councillors from NGO were known BN supporters. "Even the Indian councillors appointed under the DAP quota were strangers to DAP," said Makkal Sakti group spokesperson MN Anbalagan. Another Makkal Sakti supporter, R Kumaran, said he learnt that the decision to appoint NGO councillors was made without consulting the party state committee and general members. "There is a saying that `loyalty pays.' "But it seems staunch Indian DAP grassroots leaders and members are irrelevant today," he said.