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Penang gov’t cares for Batu Kawan cattle breeders

Contrary to the press release by one Subha Rao of the Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) on Wednesday in Batu Kawan,  more than 20 cattle breeders in Batu Kawan are not being evicted. They have been instructed to relocate to other areas in the vicinity.

In fact, the state government through the office of the Batu Kawan Member of Parliament, P Kasturi  Patto, has been organising meetings after meetings with the cattle breeders for the purpose of relocation.

The Penang Development Corporation (PDC), Seberang Perai Municipal Council (MPSP), Seberang Perai Selatan (SPS) land office and other government agencies are currently working out the details of their relocation.

In fact, while the majority of the cattle breeders are willing to cooperate with the state government on this matter, there are a few cattle breeders, particularly one Nagendran, who have been the least cooperative.

It is this person who has been trying to rope in organisations like CAP and to thwart the efforts of the state government.

In actual fact, Nagendran, supported by four or five cattle breeders, does not want compensation; rather they want the PDC to allow them to stay where they are currently located.

Penang is scarce of state-owned  lands. In fact, most the parcels of the land in Batu Kawan have been sold to investors. Given the rate of urbanisation and commercialisation in Batu Kawan, it has become difficult to allow open grazing in this area. Areas where cattle used to graze have been taken up. Little grazing land is left for cattle and goats.

About six years ago a big parcel of land was identified for cattle rearing but water contamination prevented the PDC from moving the cattle breeders. A few years back a 17 acre land site was identified for the cattle breeders, but on the  condition that the cows will be fed and kept within this enclosed areas. However, some cattle breeder rejected the offer.

Large tracts of river  reserve land (under the agency of JPS) are available with the prospect of the cattle being relocated. A few years ago about nine cattle breeders from Valdor were relocated with the provision of a temporary occupation licence (TOL).

A  number of cattle breeders throughout Penang have been given TOL on land that come under the preserve of JPS. Many of the cattle farmers who were originally located in private land were happy to be relocated in river reserve areas.

Serious shortage of land

I don’t see why the Batu Kawan estate cattle breeders are not willing to move to river reserve areas (JPS), when others have done so. Penang, unlike other states like Perak, Selangor and Kedah, is facing a serious shortage of land. There is not much state land available particularly in less developed areas like Nibong Tebal; unless of course, the state acquires land from the private land owners.

The priority in Penang is the provision of affordable houses for poor communities.

Cattle breeders, who are mostly Indian Malaysians, still hold on to their traditional ways of breeding cattle and goats. There is nothing wrong with this. But the only thing is that land is becoming scarce day by day. Grazing land is becoming a rarity in Penang!

PDC might have committed some excesses in the past. But now they have to consult me before they actually embark on eviction. Eviction is not there!

CAP should focus on more pressing consumers’ issues especially after the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST). But they are apparently more interested in trying to discredit the state government by harping on issues that are not central to consumers in Penang.

The Penang state government will not shirk its responsibility to cattle breeders in Batu Kawan or in other areas. We will work with other state agencies to find a suitable place for cattle and goats.

Traditional cattle breeding is a twilight agricultural occupation! It is not so much PDC or the Penang government; rather it is the invisible hand of modernisation and commercialisation that are contributing to the fast shrinkage of this traditional business.


P RAMASAMY is Deputy Chief Minister II of Penang and the assemblyperson for Perai.

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