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Penang PAS man blasted for Kg Mutiara blame game
Published:  Sep 4, 2015 5:37 PM
Updated: 11:21 AM

A Penang PAS leader has been blasted for continuing to politicise the issue surrounding the Kampung Mutiara land dispute.

Bukit Bendera MP Zairil Khir Johari said PAS' land committee deputy chairperson Iszuree Ibrahim ought to be familiar enough with the legal aspects of the case.

"As a former local councillor, Iszuree by right should be well aware of matters involving the law and the powers of the state government.

"As I have explained before, the Kampung Mutiara case involves a court dispute between the land owner and individual, and the residents who are occupying the said property," Zairil said in a statement today.

Iszuree, who has been at loggerheads with the DAP Penang government since last year and was eventually dropped from the city council, compared the case with the infamous Kampung Buah Pala dispute several years back.

He was reported in Umno-owned Utusan Malaysia on Wednesday saying that the state government seemed to be taking a "hands off" approach over the need to save the Malay heritage village.

"Since 2013 when I was in the state government, we have already raised the issue of that kampung many times, and had even sent a memorandum and suggestions to save the residents involved.

"Unfortunately they (the state) did not reply," Iszuree was reported telling Utusan .

'Penang gov't biassed'

Bringing up how the state had resolved the Kampung Buah Pala dispute, the PAS ex-councillor lamented the residents there had received compensation , unlike the present case.

"So why in the issue involving Kampung Mutiara, whose majority are Malays, they have not been enthusiastic and almost seems to be biassed," the PAS leader was reported saying.

Zairil said the present dispute is a private one in which the state has no involvement, but Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has nevertheless announced that the state would not approve any development on the Kampung Mutiara land as long as the owner does not compensate the residents.

This, he said, was done despite incurring the anger of the land owner.

The Bukit Bendera MP reminded the PAS leader that Bukit Bendera Umno leader Ahmad Ismail has purportedly already acknowledged and praised the state's efforts in helping the villagers with their plight.

"If Umno itself can acknowledge the role the state government is playing to defend the Kampung Mutiara residents, why is PAS continuing to slander and lay the blame?" asked Zairil.

Related stories:

'Don't blame Penang govt for Kg Mutiara evictions'

Iszuree not among new council appointments

MPPP councillor takes Penang gov’t to court

I never spoke to Utusan, claims Iszuree

24 families finally get keys to Kg Buah Pala homes

More exposes coming on sale of Malay land

Who says Penang BN never sold state land?

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