The Penang government has apparently learnt a valuable lesson from the recent 'Tamil High Chaparral' fiasco.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng's (right) administration has realised that it needs a standard policy to address and resolve issues head on NONE before the disputes blow out of proportion.

Deputy Chief Minister 1 Mansor Othman said the Pakatan Rakyat government was in the midst of formulating the policy on how to handle and tackle such crises in the future.

"The Kampung Buah Pala crisis has taught us many valuable lessons.

"The state government should promptly respond to address such issues head on.

"We need standard guidelines to amicably resolve these crises for all parties in the future," he told Malaysiakini.

Kampung Buah Pala was once known as 'Tamil High Chaparral' because of its population of mainly cowherds with life stock such as cattle, goats, and unique Indian cultural features and festivities.

The village's new owner, Koperasi Pegawai Pegawai Kanan Kerajaan Pulau Pinang and developer Nusmetro Venture (P) Sdn Bhd has now demolished and flattened the site to pave way for a lucrative condominium project called Oasis.

State damage control

The state government somehow managed to do some damage control to its credibility by securing a double-storey house offer as compensation to the villagers.

mansor othman interview 290909 Mansor (left) said the state government has done ‘a great job' by securing costly double-storey houses for the villagers, deemed by the Federal Court as "squatters and trespassers."

He said the government needed the standard guidelines to address similar problems in future as heritage and land disputes in Kampung Melayu Tanjung Tokong, Mengkuang Dam, Kampung Pisang Awak and Sungai Nibong are looming on the horizon.

He said the state government has so far not taken any stand on the heritage preservation of Tanjung Tokong village citing that the administration is confused by a lack of unity and direction among the villagers.

"The villagers must be united and clear on what they want. Only then, can the state government work on a plan to help them," he said.

People-orientated programmes

Meanwhile Mansor, who recently celebrated his 100 days in office on Sep 11, said he has lined up several people-orientated programmes such as the 'one village development and safety committee' (JKKKs) - one cooperative society and micro credit funding for small traders to help the lower income group to upgrade their standard of living.

So far nine JKKKs have formed their cooperative society and Mansor aims to have at least 50 by next March. The state has 109 JKKKs.

"I am still negotiating with the banks to finance the micro credit funding," he said, hoping to finalise the deal by year end.

On the political front, he said the state coalition council's role in the state government must be enhanced in its decision-making process.

"The state Pakatan council's views, opinions and feedback should be considered in the implementation of its policies," he said.