FREE VOXPOP 'The MRT issue is about restructuring the demographics of KL the Umno way. So please don't think it's a transport thing, it never was in the first place.'

Gov't shakes fist at Jln Sultan landowners

Onyourtoes: What I am going to write may sound very unpopular to the landowners and those who are against the MRT project and the government.

First, what is reasonable and what is unreasonable? If we ask the landowners, of course whatever offered would be unreasonable. If we ask the government, they would properly say whatever offered is more than reasonable.

There will be no end to this tussle. But the real issue is do the people of Kuala Lumpur and the Klang Valley want this project (whether or not the project is eventually carried out efficiently is a separately issue)?

Do you think the Pakatan Rakyat government would not face the same problem if they are in control of Putrajaya?

The problem in Malaysia today is everything is viewed as a Malay and non-Malay issue when in actual fact it is not.

We have no time now to correct this, so may I suggest a bipartisan committee made up of MPs and assisted by professionals be set up to look quickly into the proposed agreement between the government and the landowners. Decision once made should be final.

YF: Hello, the issue is not traffic. The issue is about restructuring the demographics of Kuala Lumpur the Umno way.

So please don't think it's a transport thing, it never was in the first place. For example, what is the overall transport plan for KL? Was there any discussion on it? Or is it another project to make Umno people rich?

The landowners do not want to lose their land but the government (aka Umno) wants to own them. Soon Chinatown will cease to exist like how they got rid of Yap Ah Loy and all the non-Malay contributors in our school history books.

Non-Malay contribution to Malaysia? Can't find any, they're all pendatangs.

Baiyuensheng: Let them try to acquire land at Kampong Baru for development purposes and repeat the arrogant remarks to those villagers there.

Hann Wei Toh: I notice certain people like to attack the government based on inconsistent announcements. Such inconsistencies usually arise due to inappropriate information dissemination and different understandings by different people.

These typically have nothing to do with wrongdoings, unless such actions are considered wrongdoings, which I think is an abuse of the legal process/definition. The main objective is to improve the transport infrastructure of the area.

In Singapore, an entire shopping centre was acquired and vacated, residents of entire blocks of apartments were relocated and cemeteries cleared for building MRT lines, expressways, trunk roads and houses. Even a Malay village was closed for redevelopment.

These projects made the country a better place. If the Singapore government faced similar opposition, could it have developed at the pace it has demonstrated?

The Malaysian public should think about this. The opponents are not doing good for the country and the community.

Loyal Malaysian: If you will only try to see the perspective of the landowners with an objective mind, you will see that they are not against the MRT or development per se.

What has been raised is that there seem to be bad faith among those entrusted in carrying out the project. There has been no undertaking given that the original landowners will be able to retain ownership after the developments, among others.

Bahau Boy: What is the difference between being forced to reach an agreement with MRT Co by Jan 30 and losing their land?

The Land and Mines Department's ultimatum to Jalan Sultan landowners is an invitation by Umno to vote against BN in the next election. Please do not underestimate the power of the people if Putrajaya is prepared to call it tough.

Manjit Bhatia: What's the hidden agenda here? The government takes over these landholdings by force, flattens them, builds the MRT, suddenly housing and shoplots spring up like mushrooms and the regime's cronies rake in a bounty simply by sitting on their butts and picking up prime property for peanuts.

This is regime gangsterism at its best. And I wish Malaysians would stop calling the regime ‘government'. It's a regime, because it is made of thugs, by thugs, for thugs.

Kugan's mum claims RM100mil in damages

Gandhi: Madam Indra Nallathamby, go all out to get the monsters in the police force and they should pay for such a heinous crime done to your dear son.

RM100 million is nothing to the government and you should get that amount and more if you can. I believe in karma for all the police hoodlums who killed your son will pay sooner or later.

AnakPinang: I can't imagine losing my child, much less losing a child in this manner. Quis custodiet ipsos custodes (who will guard the guards themselves)?

The police have long wielded the truncheon over the rakyat. The power and immunity enjoyed by them has to end.

MatrixLYN: I pity A Kugan and his family. This was not the first, and will not be the last such incident.

Cala: The tragic death of Kugan is neither a simple case nor an isolated case. In fact, it points to a larger picture depicting the collapse of good governance under the irresponsible, clueless and self-serving Umno-led BN regime.

First, it reminds us of the many deaths involving Malaysian of Indian origin while under police custody. It highlights a ‘social fact' of the marginalisation and disenfranchisement of the Indian community in Malaysia.

Second, it follows that the question to be asked is: is it due to an incompetent police force, or more likely, the consequence of unequal protection of the law?

If the second explanation is more plausible, the police we have are in reality ‘thugs in police uniform'.

Keturunan Malaysia: Indra Nallathamby, we are truly with you. A life has been unnecessarily lost and the culprits must be made to pay a heavy price.

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