There are only seven days left before Kampung Buah Pala turns into rubbles but the villagers are still hopeful that it can be saved, even without the state government's help.

This includes joining hands with landowner Koperasi Pegawai Kerajaan Negeri Pulau Pinang Bhd by proposing to them that they should consider sharing the land with the villagers.

penang kg buah pala 010709 tharmaraj chandran "So we can retain the heritage village, even if it's a small portion of land," said the village's assistant secretary C Tharmaraj in a statement today.

He also believed the Koperasi will be able to talk to them to resolve the matter amicably which he alleged is something that the developer, Numestro Venture Sdn Bhd, and state government has failed to do.

"And we will be doing this on our very own initiative without the assistance of any political party," he added.

According to Tharmaraj, the villagers' latest action indicates that they are not seeking the double storey-houses worth RM500,000 that Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has offered.

"What we are seeking is only to retain our land and way of life. If we can negotiate a portion of the land from the Koperasi, we will build it up into a heritage village," he said.

With this, he is optimistic that the villagers will be able to get the Koperasi to agree to sell some portion of the land at a reasonable price within the state government's budget.

"(If it succeeds), the state government should not start giving some (excuses) and deny us this opportunity again," said Tharmaraj.

Hopeful, state government will work together

Despite the villagers' frustration at the state government for not being able to save their village from being demolished, they are still hopeful that the state government would work together with them if the suggestion is given the greenlight.

"We hope that the state government will not give any more reasons such as that the villagers are being too greedy and arrogant.

"Here is an opportunity we are giving to the state government to show its sincerity in wanting to take care of the interests of all of its citizens," said Tharmaraj.

Last week, the Federal Court had ruled against the villagers where it stood by its June 26 decision that they must vacate their homes.

The 45 families had named Koperasi, Numestro Venture and Pentadbir Tanah Daerah Timur Laut Pulau Pinang as respondents in their lawsuit.

They were seeking a stay of execution of the bailiff's order to demolish the nearly 200-year-old Indian traditional village, popularly known as High Chaparral, located in Bukit Gelugor.

Following the apex court's decision, the villagers must now vacate their houses to pave the way for luxury condominiums to be built on the land.

The developer had last week agreed to postpone the demolition of the houses to Sept 1.