THE Penang Bukit Gelugor Residents Association is demanding an explanation regarding the conversion status of land in Bukit Gelugor.
Its vice-president M. Ganesh said the residents had waited for years for the conversion of the government land from leasehold to freehold.
He said they had been waiting since Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng announced in 2008 that residential leasehold landowners in Penang could apply to the state government to convert the land to freehold.
“The Chief Minister announced the conversion, but after that there was silence. We even went to the Land Office to try to apply but the office told us there was no such procedure.
“Now the residents want to have a direct dialogue with the Chief Minister and also representatives from Barisan Nasional for an explanation on this matter,” said Ganesh recently.
He said letters of invitation for a dialogue had been sent to Lim, Bukit Gelugor Barisan coordinator Datuk Koay Kar Huah, Seri Delima MCA coordinator Loh Nam Hooi, Bukit Gelugor MP Karpal Singh and Seri Delima assemblyman R.S.N. Rayer.
He added that residents from over 465 households in Bukit Gelugor were also worried that they might be turned out of their land for future development.
“With the leasehold status, the value of the land diminishes in years to come. We cannot apply for housing loan and it’s difficult to carry out renovation works.
“There’s only about 40 years left in the lease.
“This is a basic necessity that we are asking for. It’s not a luxury. We are only asking for our basic right,” he said, adding that the residents hoped for the dialogue to be held this month.
When contacted, Rayer said several dialogues had already been held earlier with the residents to clarify that the land conversion was under the purview of the Federal Government.
“The state had forwarded the proposal to the Federal Government but there had been no feedback.
“We are prepared to meet the residents and listen to them on this issue,” he said.
When contacted, state Town and Country Planning, Housing and Arts Committee chairman Wong Hon Wai said he was unable to comment as he was not familiar with the locality and the issue. - The Star
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