PM’s political secretary in Penang to look into evictions
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FAMILIES evicted from the public housing project at Taman Manggis PPR in Penang have got the attention of Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
Dr Mahathir’s political secretary Abu Bakar Yahya said the matter was important as it could be used as propaganda against Pakatan Harapan.
“This has now become propaganda,” he told reporters at the Tanjong Bersatu division office before leaving for Komtar.
The eviction of families, who have lost their eligibility to stay at the state-owned flat, has now become a highly politicised issue, as some families try to fight the state government’s decision.
Over 30 people from six families, including some children, are camping out outside Komtar since their eviction yesterday.
Abu Bakar arrived this evening to talk to the state housing department director and the local rep at Komtar.
The evicted families, who are now camping out at Komtar, have been widely played up by those against PH. Pro-Barisan Nasional blogger Mamu Parpu had been taking videos and broadcasting them live on Facebook
Abu Bakar, who is a Bersatu supreme council member, said he wanted to get the actual picture of what was happening.
He said it would be best to leave it to the relevant authorities to do their jobs to settle the matter within the constraints of the law.
“I don’t want to get information from negative sources. Worsening the situation doesn’t solve anything.
“I also won’t make statements (on the issue). I just hope the people won’t be so quick to believe unverified news.”
Asked if he was sent by the prime minister, Abu Bakar said that was not important, but added that Dr Mahathir might ask about the issue.
“I am the PM’s political secretary. You should know.”
Meanwhile, Dr Mahathir, who is away in the Philippines, also tweeted that he had sent his officers to look into another eviction issue in Penang.
Abu Bakar added that he also came to look into another case in Butterworth on the mainland, where some wakaf land residents are also fighting an eviction. A video of the eviction at the Abdul Cauder wakaf land had gone viral on social media today.
It was reported that 11 people, including six women, were arrested by police for allegedly obstructing Penang Islamic Council (MAINPP) officers from demolishing the houses there.
Northern Seberang Prai district police chief Noorzainy Mohd Noor told Utusan that some of the residents even assaulted a policeman, who now suffers a broken leg.
He said the six women were detained for laying down on the road to prevent an excavator from entering the village.
He said the demolition was stalled several times because the villagers refused to cooperate.
MAINPP is taking vacant possession of the wakaf land for its plans to develop the land to build a high-rise apartment. Villagers of the wakaf land had been offered units there as compensation.
Late last month, MAINPP president Abdul Malik Abul Kassim said all the families had accepted the compensation package offered.
All families will each be given a 1,000 sq ft flat unit to be built on the wakaf land, RM500 monthly rental allowance until the flat is ready, RM4000 aid to move out from the village, and RM3,500 aid to move into the new flat later. – March 7, 2019.