Tanjung Tokong renewal project proof Pakatan and BN can cooperate

GEORGE TOWN, Dec 8 – The Tanjung Tokong heritage village redevelopment project in Penang is proof the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) state and the Barisan Nasional (BN) can set aside their political differences and work together for mutual benefit, Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed said today.

“In a scenario where the country’s political scene is facing big changes, this political cooperation is good for the benefit of the people.

“The people are now smart as they will support those who are able to solve their issues and are not easily distracted by issues that are politicised,” the Urban Development Authority (UDA) Holdings chairman said in a statement today.

He said the success of the joint project between the federal and state governments had paved the way for the state-owned developer to delve into building more affordable homes in the land-strapped island state.

“All parties, especially political leaders need to set aside politics in serving the people as the people deserved to be prioritised especially when it comes to development issues,” Nur Jazlan said.

The redevelopment of Tanjung Tokong was mooted by the second prime minister, Tun Abdul Razak Hussein, when he visited the village in 1972, Nur Jazlan said, adding that the late PM’s vision was for a modern Malay settlement in George Town and reorganise the Malays in Penang.

However, the project has hit numerous glitches over the past 40 years due to objections from the villagers – many who are from the lower-income minority Malay community in Penang – unhappy with having to move out from their coastal homes and the small compensation offered by UDA.

Several phases of the massive project was implemented but it hit a snag when about 1,000 villagers had refused to relocate and make way for the project.

Finally, the PR state government took matters into its own hand and declared the village a “heritage” village and began discussions with UDA to resolve the relocation issue before the start of phase 4A of the project.

UDA will be building a total of 1,200 units of housing for the Tanjung Tokong villagers at a subsidised cost of RM160 million.

The units will be given free to the villagers just as promised by Abdul Razak, Nur Jazlan said.

“Now, Tun Razak’s promise to the Tanjung Tokong villagers are being fulfilled by his son, Najib, and this is a historical moment for the village and the country,” he said, referring to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak who flew in for a day-visit ahead of key national elections due soon.

Some 5,000 Tanjung Tokong residents had turned up at the UDA “Mai Gempa” community carnival and to welcome Najib’s visit this afternoon.

“This showed they are supportive of this redevelopment project,” Nur Jazlan said.