Batu Maung assemblyman says talks with private landowners have been ongoing for 18 months to help residents facing relocation, stressing the issue is unrelated to government projects.
GEORGE TOWN: The Batu Maung state constituency service centre has been in talks with private landowners for the past 18 months to find solutions for residents ordered to relocate.
Batu Maung assemblyman Datuk Dr Mohamad Abdul Hamid said the land in Permatang Tepi Laut is privately owned and unrelated to any government project, including the Silicon Island project.
He was responding to claims by Penang opposition leader Muhammad Fauzi Yusoff that the state government and the assemblyman had failed to assist the affected residents.
“The issue involving the 18 houses has long been discussed, and we have been working with the landowners to find a solution,” said Mohamad, who is also Penang Deputy Chief Minister I.
He said this included making several requests for a postponement over the past 18 months to safeguard residents’ welfare.
Mohamad confirmed the landowners issued a letter of demand for residents to vacate by Dec 31, but stressed it is not a court order.
Discussions with the landowners are ongoing, mainly to secure more time and at least some compensation for the affected residents.
“The land spans two lots, about three acres, owned by two individuals from Bukit Mertajam and Tanjung Piandang, Perak, with no project plans disclosed to us,” he said.
He added that as the area’s assemblyman, he chose not to publicise the issue to respect the negotiation process.
Mohamad said the opposition’s attempt to politicise the matter was unhelpful in resolving it.
