Squatters issue settled amicably
Story by Chan Lilian
IT was an exciting day for some Sungai Nibong residents when they viewed the show unit of their new homes at an event on Oct 25.
“My dear uncles and aunties from Kampung Sungai Nibong Kecil and Sungai Nibong Tengah, today we bring you here with government authorities to see the beautiful homes you will be staying in so that you will not be led astray by ridiculous rumours,” Gee Su Lyn, director of Hunza Realty Sdn Bhd told hundreds of squatters at the function in Bayan Lepas.
Hunza Properties Berhad had acquired a piece of land measuring 43 acres with 823 structures six years ago.
Out of that number, 750 accepted their resettlement compensation package.
Despite facing many challenges, Hunza successfully resettled the squatters with the help of the state government, especially Pantai Jerjak assemblymember Datuk Mohd. Rashid Hasnon who is also Deputy Chief Minister I, Bayan Baru MP Sim Tze Tzin who is also the former Pantai Jerjak assemblymember and government agencies.
Although a small section of the squatters did not accept the resettlement package, the majority had either taken up homes in Bertam, accepted cash compensation of RM42,000 or were looking forward to move into to the RM42,000 flat at Bayu Nyaman.
The 680 sq ft flat has three bedrooms and is worth over RM130,000 in the market.
Hunza founder Datuk Seri Khor Teng Tong explained why his company had provided the RM42,000 unit which actually cost RM100,000 to build.
“It is a social compensation package. I believe we must have broken the Malaysian record for providing compensations to squatters that reached close to RM100 million for the land that we acquired,” he said.
Khor also thanked Rashid for his help.
“Datuk Rashid had helped to identify those who are eligible and he and his people had gone to the ground to investigate and provide the families with various options,” he added.
Meanwhile, Rashid asserted that it is the Penang state government’s policy to ensure that no squatters were left out and worked hard for a win-win situation between landowner and squatters.
In his speech, Rashid spoke to the people who were formerly from the two kampungs.
“As your assemblymember, I made sure that none of you were left out when the land was acquired by the new landowner. Today, I am very happy to meet all of you here and to have a site visit at this topping up ceremony. The flats you will move in have been built up to Level 28. As you can see, the unit is like a medium-cost flat.”
The people who are going to move in to the new flat next year are certainly very excited as the unit is beautiful and spacious.
This is a far cry from their homes in the Kampung Sungai Nibong Kecil as some units did not have proper drainage and rubbish disposal.
In her closing speech, Gee reminded those who had not taken up the resettlement package to do so before the opportunity closes upon them. “The people should be thankful of the state government’s constant eye on the people’s dwelling woes that they have always had landowners and developers to come up with resettlement dwellings for the affected people/squatters,” Gee said.
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