After two years of battling an eviction exercise, 75 residents of Kampung Mutiara, Batu Ferringhi, received keys to their temporary homes in Selasih Court, Tanjung Tokong, today.
The homes were courtesy of UDA Land North Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of UDA Holdings Berhad, while the key handover ceremony was witnessed by Penang Deputy Chief Minister I Ahmad Zakiyuddin Abdul Rahman.
Accompanying him were the Prime Minister's Department implementation and coordinating unit deputy director (strategic development) Aizi Razman Ismail, and UDA chief executive officer Mohd Salem Kailany.
Mohd Salem said the Bumiputera participation coordinating unit of the PM's Department had invited UDA to propose a development plan for Kampung Mutiara.
"UDA took the opportunity to try and resolve the problems faced by residents on Lot 39 and 40 in Kampung Mutiara," said Mohd Salem.
Zakiyuddin said the residents received their eviction notices in 2017, when the private owner of the land decided to develop the plot.
"After an intervention by the state government, UDA felt compelled to come forward and help resolve their current housing problem by building them temporary homes in Selasih Court," Zakiyuddin explained.
"UDA will be developing 400 low-cost replacement units for residents from Kampung Mutiara, Kampung Che Ahmad, Kampung Din Bamboo, and Kampung Kubur," he added.
"They will receive the units for free which will be built according to guidelines set by the Penang government."
On Jul 31, 2017, Malaysiakini reported that Kampung Mutiara villagers were given three months to vacate their homes after they were threatened with eviction.
A settlement was reached between the landowner, then Penang deputy chief minister I Rashid Hasnon and former Umno Bukit Bendera division chief Ahmad Ismail, who represented the villagers.
The settlement prompted landowner, Loke Leng Seak, to withdraw the writ of eviction after about 500 villagers protested the move.
Former Bukit Bendera MP, currently Tanjung Bungah assemblyperson Zairil Khir Johari said the state government played "a vital role" in resolving the villagers' housing plight.
The Penang government had then agreed to acquire the land under the Land Acquisition Act from the landowner, funded by agencies under the federal government such as UDA Holdings.
UDA will also be developing 166 affordable apartment units, and 502 condominium units in the area.
"The residents will receive 800 per sq ft units, which are well-planned and comfortable," said Zakiyuddin.
To be completed in four years, the project will be partly financed by the federal government via a soft loan, and UDA, which is an agency under the Entrepreneur Development Ministry. - Mkini
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