Kg Buah Pala vs Ladang Bkt Jalil – Stinking MSM Hypocrisy
by Eyes Wide Open
When the Kg Buah Pala issue exploded in 2009, there was a huge outcry from residents, NGOs and politicians. The Kg Buah Pala residents were portrayed as helpless victims of an uncaring State government and unscrupulous developer. The image frequently portrayed of the villagers were of poor victims on the verge of being thrown into the streets.
The MSM went to town with the story, and was not shy in quoting angry residents’ denunciations of the Pakatan State Government. HINDRAF went one up on the residents, accusing the PR of colluding with the previous UMNO/Gerakan administration to victimise poor Indians.
Now, a similar drama is unfolding in the heart of the Klang Valley. Like the Kg Buah Pala controversy:
it also involves a group of poor villagers descended from estate workers,
the villagers have also lived on the former estate land for generations,
the villagers are also being evicted from their homes,
This is the saga of the Ladang Bukit Jalil residents.
However, there are some major differences between these 2 cases:
1. In the case of KBP, the PR state govt tried to mediate between the villagers and developer. Whereas, in the case of LBJ, DBKL is attempting to evict the villagers (allegedly on behalf of the land owner, Bukit Jalil Development Sdn Bhd.)
2. The KBP folks were facing eviction by the legal landowners – Nusmetro Ventures Sdn Bhd – who were exercising their right as the title owners and did the dirty work themselves. (HOW the land was scammed is another issue that we’re not addressing here in this article.) However, the LBJ folks are being evicted by DBKL by dubious means, including the invocation of Emergency Ordinance and a notice instructing villagers to vacate their properties so that DBKL can conduct “pembersihan kawasan”.
3. The KBP villagers were offered decent compensation options of up to Rm200,000, or a double story terrace house located on the same land, for each family. The LBJ villagers were merely offered about RM12,000 – RM23,ooo per family (depending on years of service) and an option to buy a low cost flat for RM35,000 – much, much smaller offers.
4. Among other counter offers presented by the KBP villagers: RM300,000 cash up front and land to construct a new heritage village, for the PR state govt to re-purchase the land from the developer, and for the PR state govt to regazette the land so that it could not be developed. The LBJ folks simply want either a terrace house (the neighbouring Kinrara estate folks were given terrace houses back in 1990’s) or 4 acres out of the 26 acres remaining of LBJ to build their own village – much smaller demands.
5. CM Lim Guan Eng was vilified in both MSM & online media for his high-handed and aloof attitude towards the Kg Buah Pala villagers. (This is not to say that the Penang state govt should be let off the hook for their terrible handling of Kg Buah Pala.) However, in the LBJ saga, Federal Territories Minister Raja Nong Chik, Dep FT Minister M. Saravanan, and KL Mayor Ahmad Fuad Ismail have been portrayed as reasonable, tolerant and helpful, despite their attitude of “take it or leave it, either way you’re out!” towards the villagers.
These are just some of the examples of how Ladang Bukit Jalil villagers have got it far, far worse than the folks at Kampung Buah Pala (who actually got their double-storey houses located in the prime development coming up on the former KBP land). The LBJ villagers didn’t even get a letter of offer before the notice of eviction came. The final offer from the FT Minister was merely delivered verbally behind closed doors and attached with an ultimatum – take it or leave it.
Sadly however, despite the greater injustices inflicted upon the Ladang Bukit Jalil villagers, the saga has only gotten a fraction of the coverage as Kampung Buah Pala by the MSM. Of course, this is to be expected seeing that the MSM, being the BN’s lapdogs, are only too happy to let the PR sink in a flood of bad press. But they would never dare dream of putting their masters in a bad light!
And whenever the MSM sees fit to cover the Ladang Bukit Jalil issue, it is usually in small articles portraying the villagers badly, praising the BN govt, spinning the stories, or publishing official lies.
Over the next few days, HartalMSM will be publishing more articles highlighting the issues faced by the villagers of Ladang Bukit Jalil that the MSM has conveniently ignored. We will also be highlighting the behind the scenes shenanigans that have been covered up by the BN govt and their MSM poodles.
Keep watching this space.
hartalmsm.wordpress.com 
There are najor differences between LBJ and KBP regarding the land issue. KBP land was given by british family to the poor estate workers..it is a trust land, later illegally turned to TOL land. but bukit jalil is not a trust or TOL land…