Bloggers questioned whether the Kg Kerinchi controversy was used for Nurul Izzah's political mileage
KUALA LUMPUR: Several blogs are pointing fingers at Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar and accusing her of Kg Kerinchi redevelopment project for her selfish political agenda.
One blog post questioned the Parti Keadilan Rakyat vice president’s sincerity in highlighting the plight of 35 families who refused to move out from their old homes to available the people’s housing scheme flats in Puchong and Pantai Dalam.
The post read: “When the residents asked for redevelopment of their homes, it was (Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing Minister) Datuk Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin who facilitated for the redevelopment plan to take place."
“Did Nurul Izzah give alternative suggestion? No.”
The post also stated when the government formulated a referendum for residents to choose the developer, Nurul Izzah did not assist the residents during the selection.
“When 92.5 per cent residents (432 families) agreed with the development, she did not help speed up the development process as well.”
The post also stated during the moving out day for the 35 families, it was Raja Nong Chik who helped the residents to do so.
One of the residents included Hashim Selim, the former president of the task force representing the 35 families.
“Where is Nurul Izzah on the moving out day? She was busy with her futsal and badminton tournament," the blogger who goes by the name Adi Kencana alleged.
In another follow up post, the blogger alleged Nurul Izzah was responsible in instigating the residents from moving out to get higher compensation amounting to RM 600,000.
In a statement Nurul Izzah said the land takeover for the redevelopment project breached current procedures as a referendum needed 100% agreement from all owners to decide on the redevelopment plans.
She said: "When residents questioned the developer’s credibility, and some of them outrightly rejected the redevelopment plans, the Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing Minister, Datuk Raja Nong Chik introduced a new method which breaches the law – the usage of a referendum process to select a developer in March 2010.
Her claim was then refuted by Raja Nong Chik who said: “When the Selangor government redeveloped the PKNS flats in Jalan Jelatek (Datum Jelatek) in 2010, it did not obtain 100% approval from the residents."
“Although the residents had brought the matter to court, the state went on with the project by acquiring the land through the Land Acquisition Act.”
Raja Nong Chik pointed out that the majority of residents had agreed on the project and their voices should not be taken lightly too.
Another blogger who identified himself as Botak wrote the ruckus that happened on 3 April, the scheduled date for the flat’s demolition was due to residents dissatisfaction with Nurul Izzah’s empty promises in providing better homes for the people.
“This was in her election manifesto in 2008,” the blogger wrote.
He said when Nurul Izzah was present on the day the falt was scheduled for demolition, the majority of residents who had agreed for the redevelopment project were unhappy as they viewed her presence as an attempt to disrupt the process.
To make matters worse, the blogger wrote that some of the residents were further riled up when they saw student activists Adam Adli Abdul Halim, Ekhsan Bukharee and Safwan Anang whom the residents viewed as outsiders.
A news report stated Adam Adli was punched in the ensuing chaos while Ekhsan was escorted out by the police who then took him to the Pantai Police Station.
Adam Adli’s presence was questionable, even a the pro-opposition blog Ameno World stated Adam Adli should not have been there as he had nothing to do with the residents’ grouses.
“Although I do not condone the act against him, Adam as an outsider should not interfere on the matter, especially when both parties (Nurul Izzah and the authority) have reached a solution on residents' issue,” the blog read.
On Tuesday Utusan Malaysia reported all of the remaining families finally moved out to the people's housing scheme flats in Puchong and Pantai Dalam. The controversy which lasted for more than two years is considere resolved, at least for now.
For some background, the following is the chronology of events leading to the Kg Kerinchi’s controversy:
1) Dec 7 2009: Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing Minister Datuk Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin announced the Kg Kerinchi redevelopment plan. Raja Nong Chik said if a unanimous decision could be reached, the occupants would be relocated to the Kerinchi and Chempaka people’s housing scheme flats to make way for the redevelopment project.
2) March 27 2010: The briefing on the redevelopment of the Kampung Kerinchi flats in Kuala Lumpur and the selection of the developer was conducted by the Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing Ministry.
3) March 29 2010: The Suez Domain development company was selected to develop the Kampung Kerinchi flats in Pantai Dalam.
4) August 28 2011: Issues surrounding the redevelopment of the Kampung Kerinchi flats in Pantai Dalam is expected to be resolved by the end of the year. The flats were earmarked for redevelopment under the urban renewal scheme.
5) March 12, 2012: The first notice to vacate the premises was issued to residents but it was extended to March 26 to allow residents to sort out their relocation and PPR units.
6) April 2 2012: Raja Nong Chik said the notice to vacate for the remaining 35 families of the Kampung Kerinchi low-cost flat will not be extended as it has past the grace period extension given to the families to look for temporary accommodation while waiting for their new homes to be completed.
7) April 3 2012: Kuala Lumpur City Hall allowed the remaining families to have another week to move out. The families had defied an eviction order to vacate the flats and following this a commotion broke out at the site when the demolition team arrived.
Student activist Adam Adli was punched by an unknown man during the commotion.
Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah who was present at the site negotiated on behalf of the residents for the Federal Territory Land and Mines Office to allocate time for residents to move out.
8) April 4 2012: In a press statement by Nurul Izzah, she raised several points regarding the redevelopment of Kampung Kerinchi which included wrongful use of power, improper procedures, and the use of physical threats in the redevelopment project.
9) April 5 2012: The remaining 35 families who initially refused to move out received keys to their homes at Kerinchi and Chempaka people’s housing schemes flat.
Raja Nong Chik also said refuted allegations by Nurul Izzah, calling it baseless and politically motivated.
On Nurul Izzah’s claim that the use of a referendum to select a developer was against the regulations, Raja Nong Chik stressed that the government was merely acting as a facilitator to ensure a smooth redevelopment process as most residents had expressed willingness for the redevelopment project to take place.
10) April 9 2012: After more than two years, the 35 families finally moved out to the people's housing scheme flats in Puchong and Pantai Dalam. - The Mole
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