By WINNIE YEOH
THE Penang Government will adopt a non-political approach to resolve the Rumah Hijau longhouse issue in Mak Mandin. A total of 66 families there have refused to relocate to another place.
State Town and Country Plan-ning, Housing and Arts Commit-tee chairman Wong Hon Wai said he would look into the proposals submitted by state Barisan Nasional leaders and also the financial implications.
“The leaders explained the history of the longhouse issue and the state government needs some time to look into the matter,” he said after a one-hour closed-door meeting with state Barisan leaders in Komtar on Friday.
Among those present were state MIC chairman P. K. Subbai-yah, Bagan Umno division chief Datuk Abdul Latiff Mirasa, Bagan MCA division Youth chief David Chua, state exco member Lim Hock Seng and some 20 residents.
Some of the residents are unhappy that they have to move to other flats in Ampang Jajar, some 3km away from the longhouses.
Last November, 170 of the 236 families there accepted the keys to their flats.
The remaining 66 families, who declined the offer, have chosen to remain in their village while demanding that the state build a block of flats within the village.
Abdul Latiff said there was an understanding between the previous state government and the residents that a block would be built there.
“The state government is quite sympathetic and is looking seriously into resolving the issue.
“The residents will stay put until a solution is found,” he said.
Chua said Barisan leaders told Wong and Lim to study minutes of the previous meetings as it could shed some light on the issue.
“The state government has agreed to check and get back to us,” he said.
Subbaiyah said there was a letter dated June 13, 2007, from the previous state govern- ment stating that the residents would be allowed to live there but there was no follow-up action.
THE Penang Government will adopt a non-political approach to resolve the Rumah Hijau longhouse issue in Mak Mandin. A total of 66 families there have refused to relocate to another place.
State Town and Country Plan-ning, Housing and Arts Commit-tee chairman Wong Hon Wai said he would look into the proposals submitted by state Barisan Nasional leaders and also the financial implications.
“The leaders explained the history of the longhouse issue and the state government needs some time to look into the matter,” he said after a one-hour closed-door meeting with state Barisan leaders in Komtar on Friday.
Among those present were state MIC chairman P. K. Subbai-yah, Bagan Umno division chief Datuk Abdul Latiff Mirasa, Bagan MCA division Youth chief David Chua, state exco member Lim Hock Seng and some 20 residents.Some of the residents are unhappy that they have to move to other flats in Ampang Jajar, some 3km away from the longhouses.
Last November, 170 of the 236 families there accepted the keys to their flats.
The remaining 66 families, who declined the offer, have chosen to remain in their village while demanding that the state build a block of flats within the village.
Abdul Latiff said there was an understanding between the previous state government and the residents that a block would be built there.
“The state government is quite sympathetic and is looking seriously into resolving the issue.
“The residents will stay put until a solution is found,” he said.
Chua said Barisan leaders told Wong and Lim to study minutes of the previous meetings as it could shed some light on the issue.
“The state government has agreed to check and get back to us,” he said.
Subbaiyah said there was a letter dated June 13, 2007, from the previous state govern- ment stating that the residents would be allowed to live there but there was no follow-up action.
The Star - Monday April 5, 2010
