Landowners say no to land acquisition

BALIK PULAU: Landowners in Kampung Genting are urging the state government to reassess its plans to acquire some 40ha plot of land for the construction of a university for women here.

Kampung Genting Village Development and Security Committee (JKKK) chairman Rosman Long said they were all for the development of educational institution in the state but it should not be at the expense of the local residents.

“This is the only land that we inherited from our family. If the state goes ahead with the land acquisition, our livelihood will be affected,” said Rosman, who led more than 50 people to protest over the issue in front of Masjid Jamek Kampung Genting yesterday.

He added that the landowners had received notices from the state secretary’s office on June 29 informing them about the land acquisition by the state for the construction of the Asian Women Leadership University (AWLU).

According to the letter, the proposal was already approved by the Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who is also the Education Minister.

However, Pulau Betong assemblyman Muhammad Farid Saad said there was no proposal for a public university approved by the Ministry of Higher Education in Balik Pulau so far.

“From my latest check, the project was only approved under EPP,” said Farid, adding that if any proposal for a higher learning institution was approved there, he would be aware of it.

The EPP is part of the new 21 Economic Transformation Programme projects announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

Furthermore, Farid said AWLU was not considered as a public university as it was funded by a private organisation.

“Therefore, I question the validity of the notices sent by the SUK office,” added Farid.

Nevertheless, Farid said the state government should reconsider their plans as more than 20 families would be affected if the university was built on their land.

“Why don’t they move it to another piece of land which is unoccupied, such as Pondok Upeh and several other plots of land on the mainland?” asked Farid.

It is learnt that the Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng will hold a press conference on the issue today. - The Star