Sg Bakap residents seek state government assistance in private land dispute

NIBONG TEBAL: A total of 21 households in a kampung area in Sungai Bakap are at risk of losing their homes.

These ground tenants, who had built their homes on the 3.4 acre of private land for over 30 years, were told to vacate within two days after receiving the letter from the land owner on June 26.

The landowner offered them only RM3,000 in compensation.

Penang deputy chief minister I, Datuk Dr Mohamad Abdul Hamid, who the villagers invited to a meeting, said the matter is complicated as a private owner owned the land and not the state government.

"So, through the housing committee chairman Datuk Seri S. Sundarajoo, the state government would like to offer the villagers the opportunity to purchase affordable houses at Taman Puteri Gunung for RM 42,000," he said during a meeting at Kamoung Makau Suah here on Friday (June 28).

The state PKR deputy chairman said the initial compensation of RM3000 was too little for the down payment on the affordable homes. The state government is meeting the landowner on Saturday (June 29) to discuss increasing the compensation.

Sundarajoo, who was also at the meeting, said if all 21 affected villagers agreed to the state government's offer, he would negotiate with the land owner to delay the need to vacate their house.

Retiree Nordin Hassan, 66, has lived in the village with his wife and son since 1991. He said he felt relieved when the state government came and offered a solution for the villagers.

"We can see there is a hope for a solution to this problem that has been on us for so long," he said.

Another villager, S.Sebastiamah,67, said she would have nowhere to go if the landowner decided to proceed with their decision.

"I hope the state government can help us to find a solution," she said.

Pakatan candidate Dr Joohari Ariffin and former Nibong Tebal PKR chairman Datuk Dr Amar Pritpal Abdullah were also present during the meeting.