Kuching
Wednesday, 29th December 2010
Mupok Aku
Wednesday, 29th December 2010
Today I am going to share with visitors of Bukittunggal a very daring speech delivered by YB Violet Yong of DAP in Sarawak DUN. Her speech touched on Taib Mahmud and his family members Land Grab Policy which none of the BNs' YB dared to touch. The speech was delivered on 4th November 2010.
Please read her speech especially the dayaks who were badly affected by Taib Mahmud Land Grab policy.
I have to bring to your attention the seriousness of the grabbing of land in Sarawak by you-all-know-who. So many parcels of land have been taken away, land that belonged to the State that is rightfully owned by all the people of Sarawak and should be used for building hospitals, schools, roads or sport facilities. But, NO, in the “Name of Urban Development”, these lands are taken away right under our nose and given to private cronies companies to enrich themselves.Private lands are now being grabbed by the BN State Government without fair compensation parcel by parcel. One stark example is the Bako lands where 3,000 acres of land that has been and still is until today subject to Section 47.(At this junction she was interrupted as they want to know who she was referring to. She told them, “ you be patient. I will let you know who later. keep your ears clear and clean”) since 38 donkey years ago are now going to be taken away by the BN state government without fair, reasonable and adequate compensation paid to landowners
Tuan Speaker,
Most of the lands are purchased through people hard-earned money and some from savings of their old parents. Many landowners bought the lands with high expectation of developing the lands or cultivating the lands for fruits gardens, or otherwise dealing with the lands when eventually the blanket Section 47 imposition is lifted. (at this junction, she was interrupted again and she said: I will let you know later on.) But now, the BN leaders in the state have stolen their dreams and hopes they had harboured. There is no transparency in the whole process of the acquisition exercise of Bako lands. (Interrupted again and she said that she will let them know later on, will name all the names. You just be patient. Keep it as a surprise, she said). The true intention of acquisition is not made clear to the landowners until today. Is there something to hide? The State Government never makes known to the people of its detailed development plan in acquiring 3000 acres of Bako lands. The people want to know why the State Government takes away 3000 acres of lands at one go? If indeed there is a development project, why don’t the government reveal it? The state government should also inform the public when will the project start? Who are the developers developing these lands? How do the people benefits from the development scheme? Or like always the case, will these lands going to be another parcel of land like in Batu Lintang and BDC which are alienated to CM's son, daughters and cousin? If the BN state government continues with such high handed manner when it comes to land acquisition, who dares to come to Sarawak to invest? Hantu also takut. (Again interruption. she said, "I am telling the facts here. Don’t try to cover up the facts for the Chief Minister). The practice of this unfair policy will frighten foreign investors away.How can the people feel safe when the landed properties own by private individual or sectors are worthless when their lands can overnightended in the hands of the cronies and friends of the BN leaders? ( More interruption from others but she ignored them and read on)
Tuan Speaker,
The offers of compensation of RM40,500.00 to RM80,900.00 per acre by the Sarawak state government which are not based on current market value of lands is an insult to anyone’s intelligent. It is unfair and unreasonable for the state government to offer compensation based on value in 1973 ( Interuption again from a few when s.47 was imposed. It is the talk of the town now that the State Government only knows how to makan the rakyat lands and give them to their relatives and cronies. The people cried foul that it is “Daylight robbery” and I would say it is clear case of exploitation of the people of Sarawak. Is this the caring and responsible government you all professed to be? Are you not ashamed of taking away again and again from your own Sarawakians, your very own subjects? Do you just take a map of Sarawak and drew a ‘red line’ and said “Oh, I want this, my brothers want this and yes, my sisters need this piece and that A,B,C company or Naim wants that, then you mark it under Section 47, or 48 or whatever it is to make it YOURs. Is this how the government is being run? Exploiting the subjects who had worked for the State all these years.The present Land code has not benefit the land owners (More interruption and she told them that she will move on to another subject but she continues reading her text) in any way except for the top BN leaders and cronies. It is sad to see that the BN state government has abused the law to enrich themselves. Over the years, we DAP and the people had through their votes told and reminded the Sarawak State government to amend all the unfair provisions in the Land Code including the Section 47 and yet the calls have all fallen to deaf ears. And now, the self claimed caring and responsible BN government tells the landowners that nothing much can be done because the law provides so. Everything we do we have to follow the law. It is obvious that the present Land Code has been subject to abuse by the BN leaders. The arrogant government officer even challenges the people to take the matter to court if the landowners are not happy with the decision of the government. Do you think that you are the government and you can simply do whatever you want and even held the landowners to ransom? Do not think that the people are stupid and would believe and accept what the BN leaders said. DAP had thought the people smart and the people are not so easily get cheated by the sweet talks and lies of the BN leaders.
Tuan Speaker,
The Bako land owners wants the compensation paid based on current market value instead of that of 1973. At the same time, they have also put forward a suggestion that if the State government is really interested to develop their lands, they want a share in it. The land owners who met up with me recently said if truly there is a development plan for Bako area, they are ready to be involved in the development of their lands. I would say it is extremely unfair to exclude them from the development scheme since they are the rightful owners to the lands for all these years. The development of Sarawak should not be allowed to concentrate in the hands of few of the cronies companies of the BN leaders. Why don’t the state government invite all interested landowners to take part in the so called “Urban Development Scheme” and have a share on the economic pie?
Tuan Speaker,
If not because of the imposition of the blanket Section 47 on Bako lands by the state government since 1973, I verily believe that the area would have fully developed by the landowners themselves over these years. The state government is to be blamed for all opportunity loss as well as monetary loss suffered by the landowners of their investment in Bako lands. May I also suggest to the State Government that another possible way to solve the compensation issue for lands in Bako that are subject to Section 47 notification is that the state government could uplift the Section 47 notification first and then impose Section 48 notification so that compensation can be based on current market value and not market value in 1973. I sincerely urge the BN leaders to listen to the voice of the people and adopt this suggestion. For once, do leave a legacy behind for the people of Sarawak.
Alienation of 269 Acres of Lands in BDC to CM's children
Tuan Speaker,
Still on the land issue. Do you know the discovery on three parcels of state lands with a total area of 269 acres known as Lot Nos. 9192, 9193 and 9194 Block 11 all of Muara Tebas Land District in BDC area have been alienated to a dormant company called Monarda Sdn. Bhd. at an obscene low price? These three parcels of land of 269 acres are in prime area in BDC area. A land, every developer would love to own. It would be a ‘gold mine’ for mixed development. Any developer would love to get it at RM78, 647,112.00 million and earn hundreds and hundreds of millions from it. The said sum of RM78 million is not paid by cash but in kind. While the Bako land owners are crying for their lands lost due to unfair Land law and policies of the Sarawak Government, Monarda Sdn. Bhd. a dormant company is laughing all the way to the bank as the RM78 million land is actually worth more than RM500 million. In other words, if we do a simple calculation, the lands in BDC can easily fetch between RM2 to RM2.5 million have been alienated to Monarda at only RM291,000 per acre. This is really “lelong” land.
Tuan Speaker,
Easy money? This can happened anywhere around the globe as long as they are given the opportunity to enjoy the hospitality of the place they dwell............ Devil in disguise!!
