Families of eight slain cops to get RM30k each

The Penang executive council, at its meeting today, endorsed Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng’s proposal to contribute RM30,000 to each family of two police personnel killed on March 1 in Lahad Datu, Sabah.

Announcing the decision at a press conference today, Lim said the families of six others killed in Semporna on March 2 will also receive the same sum.

"When we receive the necessary information (from the police), we will disburse the money. The total payout will be RM240,000," he said, expressing his condolences to the families concerned.

Lim said the state government is grateful to the police and armed forces for keeping the security of Sabah intact.

The security operations in Lahad Datu were initiated following a three-week stand-off with the self-styled ‘Royal Sulu Army’ of the defunct Sulu sultanate.

The armed group had entered Kampung Tanduo near Lahad Datu, and refused to leave by the deadline set, despite the extensions given.

Following the death of the eight police personnel in initial operations to flush them out, an all-out air and ground strike was mounted at Kampung Tanduo yesterday by a combined police and army force.

YWCA gets title to land

At the same press conference, Lim handed over ownership of a plot of land and the title for this to the Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA).

The 104-year-old NGO had owed the state RM282,000 in rental for use of the site in Jalan Masjid Negeri, but was allowed to continue operating there.

"As it is a non-profit organisation, we allowed it to remain on the land and to pay the old rate in rent ... It is doing good work for women and Penangites," Lim said.

"This is also in recognition of the work of NGOs. (As) a caring government, we try to help those who have done good work whenever we can.”

YWCA president Dr Marina David said the association had managed to raise the money it owed the government by the end of last month through fund-raising activities.

"It is a great day for us as Lim and his state exco have kept their part of the bargain to hand over the land and the title, after we raised funds to pay up the rent," she said.

Lydia Ong Kok Fooi, the state exco for youth,  sports, women, family and community development, was also present.