Tan Sri Mohd Sidek Hassan should maintain a high degree of professionalism as the Chief Secretary to the Federal Government.
We urge Tan Sri Sidek not to interfere with the Selangor State administration.
Monday, December 27, 2010
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Bravo to YB William Leong and YB Ean Yong
Bravo to YB William Leong and YB Ean Yong Hian Wah!
Now, Taman Daya residents are closer to getting their individual land title issued. They have waited for over 25 years, since the developer went bankrupt. Their title issue is the result of poor supervision by the Ministry of Housing & Local Government. When its minister, especially Ting Chew Pei, was informed of the problem, he never took up the issue seriously; neither was the Housing & Local Government Act tightened to take such developers to task for defaulting in their obligations to housebuyers.
When a friend of mine told me regarding this issue and he planned to get the help of Chan Kong Choy, former Member of Parliament of Selayang, I told him, "Forget about it! I have approached these two clowns: Chan, and his assistant, Wong Kung-Fu. Not even that old clown, Tang See Hang! They do nothing but play tai-chi!" One meeting after another was called with the developer, and finally, my friend gave up. That was before the 2008 General Election. Now, Chan is no where to be found! Probably, the PKFZ scandal has scared him off.
It was last year that I approached my friend's twin brother to bring him to see William Leong and help them organise a press conference. They were both my schoolmates. Within one year, the solution is closer at hand, thanks to William Leong and Ean Yong! Bravo to you guys for working hard to help the people unlike those who try to make things worse for people who voted for you! They have lost our confidence, but you have won ours for many years to come.
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Friday December 10, 2010
End in sight for land title problem
By PRIYA MENON
priya@thestar.com.my
AN END is in sight for the 20-year land title issue that has been plaguing residents of Taman Daya, Kepong, as a briefing will be held on Sunday to explain the next step in procuring the individual titles.
For 20 years, 288 residents of the second phase of the project have been fighting for their titles.
The area is divided into three master land titles where the first phase titles were sub-divided in 1991 and handed out to the owners in 2001.
After pressing the land office, a meeting was held on Dec 29 last year with Gombak Land Office assistant district officer who announced that residents who have yet to receive their individual titles would only have to pay RM1,000 as land premium.
The Taman Daya Residents Association was preparing to announce the good news to the residents when they were told by the new assistant district officer on Feb 12 that the rate would be between RM6,000 and RM7,000 per unit.
They then sought the assistance of Selangor state executive councillor Ean Yong Hian Wah and Selayang MP William Leong to pursue the matter. Both Ean and Leong sent in a letter to the officer who later replied that the extra payment was for special added premium.
Leong’s secretary Chan Foo Chuen said the special added premium was the outstanding premium that the previous developers failed to pay.
“The amount falls back on the buyers,” he said.
RA chairman Tan Chong Leng later met state executive councillor for Housing, Building Development and Squatters Iskandar Abdul Samad to solve the issue.
“Iskandar was also surprised by the amount and the matter was raised at the state executive council meeting.
“There they decided to waive the special added premium, bringing the rate back to RM1,000,” he added.
Finally, they received a letter from the Gombak Land Office on Oct 25, confirming an amount of RM1,470 per unit to proceed with the sub-division.
Property owners have been asked to attend the briefing on Sunday at 10am at the association’s office that will be held with Leong, the assistant district officer and a surveyor.
The court-appointed liquidator, however, has yet to confirm attendance.
“We hope the liquidator will be able to attend because we need them to confirm the actual property owners especially for units that have changed hands a number of times,” added Tan.
Owners have been advised to bring along two photostated copies of their MyKad, latest sale and purchase agreement, deed assignment as well as the rest and reassignment.
For details, contact Leong’s special officer Loo Voon May at 012-2983 721 or Tan at 019-662 3913.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Eat the cake
Found this in the Internet as I googled for "Eat the cake". Could this be the reason for the "eat the cake" sessions? If yes, who is the Malaysian version of Marie-Antoinette?
Let them eat cake
Origin
The origins of many English phrases are unknown. Nevertheless, many people would say that they know the source of this one. It is widely attributed to Marie-Antoinette (1755-93), the Queen consort of Louis XVI. She is supposed to have said this when she was told that the French populace had no bread to eat.
The original French is 'Qu'ils mangent de la brioche', i.e. 'Let them eat brioche' (brioche is a form of cake made of flour, butter and eggs). The usual interpretation of the phrase is that Marie-Antoinette understood little about the plight of the poor and cared even less. There are two problems with that interpretation:
1. There's no evidence of any kind that Marie-Antoinette ever uttered those words or anything like them, and
2. The phrase, in as much as it can be shown to be associated with the French nobility, can be interpreted in other ways, for example, it could have either ironic or even a genuine attempt to offer cake to the poor as an alternative to the bread that they couldn't afford.
As to the origin of the expression, two notable contemporaries of Marie-Antoinette - Louis XVIII and Jean-Jacques Rousseau, attribute the phrase to a source other than her. In Louis XVIII's memoir Relation d'un voyage a Bruxelles et d Coblentz, 1791, he states that the phrase 'Que ne mangent-ils de la croûte de pâté?' (Why don't they eat pastry?) was used by Marie-Thérèse (1638-83), the wife of Louis XIV. That account was published almost a century after Marie-Thérèse's death though, so it must be treated with some caution.
Jean-Jacques Rousseau's 12-volume autobiographical work Confessions, was written in 1770. In Book 6, which was written around 1767, he recalls:
At length I recollected the thoughtless saying of a great princess, who, on being informed that the country people had no bread, replied, "Then let them eat pastry!"
Marie-Antoinette arrived at Versailles from her native Austria in 1770, two or three years after Rousseau had written the above passage. Whoever the 'great princess' was - possibly Marie-Thérèse, it wasn't Marie-Antoinette.
Her reputation as an indulgent socialite is difficult to shake, but it appears to be unwarranted and is a reminder that history is written by the victors. She was known to have said "It is quite certain that in seeing the people who treat us so well despite their own misfortune, we are more obliged than ever to work hard for their happiness". Nevertheless, the French revolutionaries thought even less of her than we do today and she was guillotined to death in 1793 for the crime of treason.
Bravo, Mat Zain!
Saiful Amri
KUALA LUMPUR, 23 Nov: Walaupun sudah 12 tahun berlalu, tragedi 'Mata Lebam' Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim masih menghantui pasukan polis dan hari ini Peguam Negara, Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail sediri dikaitkan dengan tragedi ini.
Bekas Pegawai Penyiasat polis terhadap kes ini, Mat Zain Ibrahim semalam (22 November) menghantar satu surat terbuka kepada Ketua Polis Negara meminta beliau membersihkan pasukan polis dan mendakwa pihak yang patut dipersalahkan dalam isu ini adalah Peguam Negara, Tan Sri Gani Patail.
Menurut surat panjang Mat Zain kepada Tan Sri Ismail Omar itu, sekurang-kurangnya sudah dua kali Gani menipu Jamaah Menteri.
"Apa yang pasti ialah, pertuduhan menipu Jemaah Menteri terhadap Tun LLS (Ling Leong Sik) itu tidak adil kepada beliau, jika Peguam Negara pula tidak dituduh, kerana beliau juga pernah menipu Jemaah Menteri, sekurang-kurangnya dua kali," tulis Mat Zain dalam surat itu.
Menurut Mat Zain, beliau pernah diminta menemui Datuk Seri Najib Razak pada 23 Oktober 2008 ketika beliau menjadi timbalan perdana menteri. Dalam pertemuan itu, beliau berkata, Najib telah memarahi beliau apabila memberitahu satu penal telah dibentuk bagi mengkaji siasatan SPRM terhadap Ketua Polis Negara Tan Sri Musa Hassan dan Peguam Negara, Gani Patail.
"Dalam perbualan sama, saya memberitahu YAB PM mengenai maklumat yang saya perolehi; dimana pihak Kerajaan telah melantik satu Panel bagi mengkaji siasatan yang dijalankan oleh SPRM. Saya juga telah menyebutkan nama dua orang yang telah dilantik sahaja yang saya ketahui pada masa itu.
"Secara sepontan YAB PM bangun daripada tempat duduknya dan menyatakan dengan serious bahawa beliau tidak tahu menahu mengenai perlantikan Panel yang saya nyatakan kepadanya. Beliau selanjutnya menyatakan bahawa sekiranya benar sesuatu Panel telah dilantik, beliau pasti telah ditaklimatkan mengenainya.
"Malahan YAB PM telah menasihatkan saya supaya tidak percaya dengan khabar angin sedemikian kerana perkara itu adalah tidak benar. Setelah berbual satu dua perkara lain saya telah meninggalkan Pejabat YAB PM," tulis Mat Zain menceritakan bagaimana PM telah memarahi beliau.
Namun, katanya, terbukti selepas itu, Penal itu memang diwujudkan oleh Jabatan Peguam Negara sebagaimana jawapan rasmi kerajaan di Parlimen.
Pada 11.3.2009, Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz telah membuat pengumuman di-Parlimen mengenai keputusan siasatan SPRM tersebut, tulis Mat Zain.
Nazri mengumumkan bahawa siasatan SPRM telah diteliti oleh tiga orang Ahli Panel bebas yang dilantik sebagai Timbalan Pendakwa Raya(DPP) mengikut Kanun Prosidur Jenayah(CPC) oleh Peguam Cara Negara(SG) padahal sebelumnya, PM Najib telah menafikan penubuhan penal itu.
Beliau juga memberikan nama-nama tiga orang Ahli Panel bebas tersebut iaitu; Datuk Abdul Kadir Sulaiman, Datuk Wira Mohd.Noor Ahmad dan Datuk Mohd.Noor Abdullah,masing-masing mantan Hakim Mahkamah Persekutuan dan seorang mantan Hakim Mahkamah Rayuan.
Selanjutnya beliau mengumumkan bahawa Ahli Panel sebulat suara (3-0) mendapati Tan Sri Musa Hasan tidak terlibat dalam sebarang salah laku jenayah manakala keputusan majoriti (2-1) terhadap Tan Sri Gani Patail (TSGP) yang bermakna seorang dari Ahli Panel tersebut mendapati terdapat keterangan mengaitkan TSGP dalam suatu salah-laku.
Namun begitu kedua-dua TSGP dan TSMH dibersihkan daripada sebarang salah laku jenayah, tulis Mat Zain.
Menurut Mat Zain, cara Peguam Negara mengendalikan isu P I Balasubramaniam dan dakwaan terhadap Ling Leong Sik "mengesahkan tanpa ragu lagi, bahawa beliau tidak menghiraukan langsung hak kesamarataan individu dari sudut undang-undang, yang dijamin oleh Perlembagaan."
Sehubungan itu beliau mencadangkan agar Peguam Negara dihadapkan kehadapan Tribunal untuk disiasat.
"Sekiranya Ketua Hakim Negara boleh dibawa kehadapan Tribunal,jika bekas Timbalan Perdana Menteri,Menteri Besar,Menteri-Menteri kanan termasuk Tun LLS,Ahli-Ahli Parlimen,Ketua Polis Negara,Panglima dalam Tentera Darat, Ketua Setiausaha Kementrian,Ketua Pengarah-Ketua Pengarah Jabatan Kerajaan dan lain-lain, mampu dihadapkan kemuka pengadilan oleh Kerajaan,malah ada diantara mereka yang telah menjalani hukuman,dibuang kes dan ada yang masih menunggu perbicaraan selain daripada telah diaibkan. Apa istimewanya Peguam Negara?" tulis beliau.
Mat Zain juga mengaitkan kes Mata Lebam dengan Peguam Negara.
Menurutnya, persetujuan telah dicapai oleh Ketua Polis Negara, Tan Sri Rahim Nor dengan timbalannya, Tan Sri Norian Mai dan beliau selaku Pegawai Penyiasat kes itu agar ia ditutup dengan penuh hormat.
"Sebenarnya persetujuan untuk penutupan sepenuhnya insiden mata-lebam itu, dicapai antara jam 2.30 petang hingga 3.30 petang hari Khamis 8.10.1998," katanya.
Persetujuan ini dicapai diantara Tan Sri Abdul Rahim Noor (TSRN), Ketua Polis Negara ketika itu,Tan Sri Norian Mai,Timbalan Ketua Polis Negara dan saya selaku Pegawai Penyiasat,didalam bilik Pejabat TSRN sendiri
"Setelah memberi persetujuan tersebut saya lihat wajah TSRN begitu tenang,dan menerusi “body language” beliau, saya dapati seolah beliau begitu lega, setelah beban diatas bahunya dilepaskan.
"Malah beliau sambil bersahaja menanyakan kepada Tan Sri Norian, sama ada beliau(TSRN) layak membeli staff-car Mercedes yang sedang beliau gunakan itu, dan jika boleh beliau minta tolong, untuk repair sedikit-sedikit mana yang rosak," tulisnya.
Keputusan yang dicapai, berdasarkan tulisan Mat Zain itu, Tan Sri Rahim akan mengaku memukul Anwar sehingga lebam matanya dan meletakkan jawatan kerana kesalahan itu.
Namun semua itu berubah apabila Peguam Negara ketika itu, Tan Sri Mohtar Abdullah diiringi orang kuatnya Datuk Abdul Gani Patail telah menemui Rahim Noor.
"Manusia hanya boleh merancang, tetapi Allah sahaja yang boleh menentukanNya. Saya mendapat tahu kemudiannya, iaitu pada jam lebih kurang 5.00 hingga 5.30 petang 8.10.1998 itu,Tan Sri Mohtar Abdullah (Allahyarham) diringi oleh orang kuatnya Datuk Abdul Ghani Patail ,telah menemui TSRN dibilik Pejabat KPN," tulis Mat Zain.
"Lebih kurang jam 6.00 petang itu saya dipanggil untuk berjumpa dengan Tan Sri Norian dan beliau cuma memberitahu saya “untuk meneruskan siasatan seperti biasa”,dan apabila melihat beliau membuat gesture bahunya sedemikian,saya faham bahawa persetujuan yang dicapai antara kami beberapa jam sahaja sebelum itu telah dibatalkan.
"Saya harus menyatakan bahawa saya terkejut dan hampa dengan perubahan ini, tetapi siapalah saya untuk menghalangnya, oleh kerana kita sendiri tidak tahu apa yang akan berlaku pada hari esok," tulisnya lagi.
Suruhanjaya Diraja yang ditubuhkan kerajaan untuk menyiasat tragedi Mata Lebam itu mendapati Rahim yang bersalah kerana memukul Anwar.
Namun sebelum itu, siasatan polis tidak pernah mendedahkan Rahim yang bersalah bahkan Tun Dr Mahathir pernah mendakwa Anwar mencederakan dirinya sendiri.
Bekas Pegawai Penyiasat polis terhadap kes ini, Mat Zain Ibrahim semalam (22 November) menghantar satu surat terbuka kepada Ketua Polis Negara meminta beliau membersihkan pasukan polis dan mendakwa pihak yang patut dipersalahkan dalam isu ini adalah Peguam Negara, Tan Sri Gani Patail.
Menurut surat panjang Mat Zain kepada Tan Sri Ismail Omar itu, sekurang-kurangnya sudah dua kali Gani menipu Jamaah Menteri.
"Apa yang pasti ialah, pertuduhan menipu Jemaah Menteri terhadap Tun LLS (Ling Leong Sik) itu tidak adil kepada beliau, jika Peguam Negara pula tidak dituduh, kerana beliau juga pernah menipu Jemaah Menteri, sekurang-kurangnya dua kali," tulis Mat Zain dalam surat itu.
Menurut Mat Zain, beliau pernah diminta menemui Datuk Seri Najib Razak pada 23 Oktober 2008 ketika beliau menjadi timbalan perdana menteri. Dalam pertemuan itu, beliau berkata, Najib telah memarahi beliau apabila memberitahu satu penal telah dibentuk bagi mengkaji siasatan SPRM terhadap Ketua Polis Negara Tan Sri Musa Hassan dan Peguam Negara, Gani Patail.
"Dalam perbualan sama, saya memberitahu YAB PM mengenai maklumat yang saya perolehi; dimana pihak Kerajaan telah melantik satu Panel bagi mengkaji siasatan yang dijalankan oleh SPRM. Saya juga telah menyebutkan nama dua orang yang telah dilantik sahaja yang saya ketahui pada masa itu.
"Secara sepontan YAB PM bangun daripada tempat duduknya dan menyatakan dengan serious bahawa beliau tidak tahu menahu mengenai perlantikan Panel yang saya nyatakan kepadanya. Beliau selanjutnya menyatakan bahawa sekiranya benar sesuatu Panel telah dilantik, beliau pasti telah ditaklimatkan mengenainya.
"Malahan YAB PM telah menasihatkan saya supaya tidak percaya dengan khabar angin sedemikian kerana perkara itu adalah tidak benar. Setelah berbual satu dua perkara lain saya telah meninggalkan Pejabat YAB PM," tulis Mat Zain menceritakan bagaimana PM telah memarahi beliau.
Namun, katanya, terbukti selepas itu, Penal itu memang diwujudkan oleh Jabatan Peguam Negara sebagaimana jawapan rasmi kerajaan di Parlimen.
Pada 11.3.2009, Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz telah membuat pengumuman di-Parlimen mengenai keputusan siasatan SPRM tersebut, tulis Mat Zain.
Nazri mengumumkan bahawa siasatan SPRM telah diteliti oleh tiga orang Ahli Panel bebas yang dilantik sebagai Timbalan Pendakwa Raya(DPP) mengikut Kanun Prosidur Jenayah(CPC) oleh Peguam Cara Negara(SG) padahal sebelumnya, PM Najib telah menafikan penubuhan penal itu.
Beliau juga memberikan nama-nama tiga orang Ahli Panel bebas tersebut iaitu; Datuk Abdul Kadir Sulaiman, Datuk Wira Mohd.Noor Ahmad dan Datuk Mohd.Noor Abdullah,masing-masing mantan Hakim Mahkamah Persekutuan dan seorang mantan Hakim Mahkamah Rayuan.
Selanjutnya beliau mengumumkan bahawa Ahli Panel sebulat suara (3-0) mendapati Tan Sri Musa Hasan tidak terlibat dalam sebarang salah laku jenayah manakala keputusan majoriti (2-1) terhadap Tan Sri Gani Patail (TSGP) yang bermakna seorang dari Ahli Panel tersebut mendapati terdapat keterangan mengaitkan TSGP dalam suatu salah-laku.
Namun begitu kedua-dua TSGP dan TSMH dibersihkan daripada sebarang salah laku jenayah, tulis Mat Zain.
Menurut Mat Zain, cara Peguam Negara mengendalikan isu P I Balasubramaniam dan dakwaan terhadap Ling Leong Sik "mengesahkan tanpa ragu lagi, bahawa beliau tidak menghiraukan langsung hak kesamarataan individu dari sudut undang-undang, yang dijamin oleh Perlembagaan."
Sehubungan itu beliau mencadangkan agar Peguam Negara dihadapkan kehadapan Tribunal untuk disiasat.
"Sekiranya Ketua Hakim Negara boleh dibawa kehadapan Tribunal,jika bekas Timbalan Perdana Menteri,Menteri Besar,Menteri-Menteri kanan termasuk Tun LLS,Ahli-Ahli Parlimen,Ketua Polis Negara,Panglima dalam Tentera Darat, Ketua Setiausaha Kementrian,Ketua Pengarah-Ketua Pengarah Jabatan Kerajaan dan lain-lain, mampu dihadapkan kemuka pengadilan oleh Kerajaan,malah ada diantara mereka yang telah menjalani hukuman,dibuang kes dan ada yang masih menunggu perbicaraan selain daripada telah diaibkan. Apa istimewanya Peguam Negara?" tulis beliau.
Mat Zain juga mengaitkan kes Mata Lebam dengan Peguam Negara.
Menurutnya, persetujuan telah dicapai oleh Ketua Polis Negara, Tan Sri Rahim Nor dengan timbalannya, Tan Sri Norian Mai dan beliau selaku Pegawai Penyiasat kes itu agar ia ditutup dengan penuh hormat.
"Sebenarnya persetujuan untuk penutupan sepenuhnya insiden mata-lebam itu, dicapai antara jam 2.30 petang hingga 3.30 petang hari Khamis 8.10.1998," katanya.
Persetujuan ini dicapai diantara Tan Sri Abdul Rahim Noor (TSRN), Ketua Polis Negara ketika itu,Tan Sri Norian Mai,Timbalan Ketua Polis Negara dan saya selaku Pegawai Penyiasat,didalam bilik Pejabat TSRN sendiri
"Setelah memberi persetujuan tersebut saya lihat wajah TSRN begitu tenang,dan menerusi “body language” beliau, saya dapati seolah beliau begitu lega, setelah beban diatas bahunya dilepaskan.
"Malah beliau sambil bersahaja menanyakan kepada Tan Sri Norian, sama ada beliau(TSRN) layak membeli staff-car Mercedes yang sedang beliau gunakan itu, dan jika boleh beliau minta tolong, untuk repair sedikit-sedikit mana yang rosak," tulisnya.
Keputusan yang dicapai, berdasarkan tulisan Mat Zain itu, Tan Sri Rahim akan mengaku memukul Anwar sehingga lebam matanya dan meletakkan jawatan kerana kesalahan itu.
Namun semua itu berubah apabila Peguam Negara ketika itu, Tan Sri Mohtar Abdullah diiringi orang kuatnya Datuk Abdul Gani Patail telah menemui Rahim Noor.
"Manusia hanya boleh merancang, tetapi Allah sahaja yang boleh menentukanNya. Saya mendapat tahu kemudiannya, iaitu pada jam lebih kurang 5.00 hingga 5.30 petang 8.10.1998 itu,Tan Sri Mohtar Abdullah (Allahyarham) diringi oleh orang kuatnya Datuk Abdul Ghani Patail ,telah menemui TSRN dibilik Pejabat KPN," tulis Mat Zain.
"Lebih kurang jam 6.00 petang itu saya dipanggil untuk berjumpa dengan Tan Sri Norian dan beliau cuma memberitahu saya “untuk meneruskan siasatan seperti biasa”,dan apabila melihat beliau membuat gesture bahunya sedemikian,saya faham bahawa persetujuan yang dicapai antara kami beberapa jam sahaja sebelum itu telah dibatalkan.
"Saya harus menyatakan bahawa saya terkejut dan hampa dengan perubahan ini, tetapi siapalah saya untuk menghalangnya, oleh kerana kita sendiri tidak tahu apa yang akan berlaku pada hari esok," tulisnya lagi.
Suruhanjaya Diraja yang ditubuhkan kerajaan untuk menyiasat tragedi Mata Lebam itu mendapati Rahim yang bersalah kerana memukul Anwar.
Namun sebelum itu, siasatan polis tidak pernah mendedahkan Rahim yang bersalah bahkan Tun Dr Mahathir pernah mendakwa Anwar mencederakan dirinya sendiri.
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Sarawakians, open your eyes
For our Sarawakian friends, you should read this to see how corrupted our Government has become: http://www.sarawakreport.org
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!
Fruits of education policy flip-flops
Recently, Muhyiddin Yassin decreed that SPM students must pass the History paper in order to get a full SPM certificate.....
Fruits of education policy flip-flops
Malaysia has one of the highest allocations for education compared to developed countries but still our education system is deteriorating, according to a senior lecturer who has taught for the past 20 years.
Senator S Ramakrishnan said despite the massive spending, achieving quality in education and producing a skilled and talented workforce still remain elusive targets with Malaysian education planners seeming not to have any solution.
"It is for this reason, many Investors and FDIs are reluctant to invest locally due to poor quality of education, non -competitive and non-proactive workforce, policy inconsistencies and bureaucratic red tape."
He said the government spends about 20-21% of its budget allocation on education every year. Based on the United Nation human development report in 2009 Malaysia expended about 8.1% of GDP on education and ranked 10 in the world.
"The US spend about 5.7% and the UK 5.3%. Malaysian spending is relatively high compared to other countries and we should be having no problem with skill and talents to transform from a middle income to a high income economy, Ramakrishnan (right) added.
Yesterday, Malaysiakini reported 70 % of the 2,128 secondary schools ranked by the Education Ministry scored less than 60 percent in the school ranking system under the Government Transformation Programme.
According to the School Improvement Programme report for 2010 obtained by Malaysiakini, out of 1,538 schools that scored less than 60 percent, 420 did not even score 50 percent with eight lower than 40 percent.
Eight hundred and twenty-eight of the 1,538 lower ranking schools are located in rural areas, defined as areas where agriculture make up more than 60 percent of economic activity.
Ramakrishnan asked: "What went wrong?" The answer, he said was in tremendous wastes of resources, when all the money spent did not yield the required results. The Malaysian government is turning the other way for an answer when the solution is right in front of them.
Education funds provide merry times
Senator S Ramakrishnan said despite the massive spending, achieving quality in education and producing a skilled and talented workforce still remain elusive targets with Malaysian education planners seeming not to have any solution.
"It is for this reason, many Investors and FDIs are reluctant to invest locally due to poor quality of education, non -competitive and non-proactive workforce, policy inconsistencies and bureaucratic red tape."
He said the government spends about 20-21% of its budget allocation on education every year. Based on the United Nation human development report in 2009 Malaysia expended about 8.1% of GDP on education and ranked 10 in the world.
"The US spend about 5.7% and the UK 5.3%. Malaysian spending is relatively high compared to other countries and we should be having no problem with skill and talents to transform from a middle income to a high income economy, Ramakrishnan (right) added.Yesterday, Malaysiakini reported 70 % of the 2,128 secondary schools ranked by the Education Ministry scored less than 60 percent in the school ranking system under the Government Transformation Programme.
According to the School Improvement Programme report for 2010 obtained by Malaysiakini, out of 1,538 schools that scored less than 60 percent, 420 did not even score 50 percent with eight lower than 40 percent.
Eight hundred and twenty-eight of the 1,538 lower ranking schools are located in rural areas, defined as areas where agriculture make up more than 60 percent of economic activity.
Ramakrishnan asked: "What went wrong?" The answer, he said was in tremendous wastes of resources, when all the money spent did not yield the required results. The Malaysian government is turning the other way for an answer when the solution is right in front of them.
Education funds provide merry times
"The ministry and its policy makers spend billions and billions of ringgit on building and buying hardware like computers, laptops and other equipment. Hardware forms the major portion of ministry of education budget.
"Spending money on conferences, seminars and trainings was not focused on learning, unlearning or relearning but on food, expensive hotels and on sightseeing. Billions are also spent on religious education where the emphasis is on conforming to religious dos and don'ts.
"Unfortunately, skewed religious propaganda formed the substance of BTN courses. New national schools are built all over but the quality of teaching has deteriorated and the quality of school heads is deplorable. Once, Malaysia was noted for having great headmasters and exemplary teachers who became role models for students.
"The decline in education system started when our education policies and systems were meddled with racism, zealotry and politicized.
"The affirmative action plan initiated in 1970 to help the poor regardless of race had been hijacked by Umno to convert Malays into their ardent supporters and be their loyal voters. The Umno led government went on to replace loyal and well meaning civil servants with one race and one religious civil service.
"Dedicated and experienced civil servants, teachers, doctors and other professionals were not promoted and but their junior colleagues were. In this way the government was deprived of capable and experienced staff.
"Politicians failed to see that a multi racial country needs a multi racial civil service to cater for all the needs and requirement of the country and its people. This perverted mindset of educators could not make long term informed decisions.
"Besides, the religious leaders and politicians did not allow civil servants to mature and think independently. They were made to be grateful and obligated to the ruling Umno politicians. As a result process and policies brought about compliant and subservient bureaucrats, " he said.
Gov't's acrobatic adventures decried
Owing to the poor education system in schools Malaysian students were deprived of independent, critical and analytical thinking in English which is the international lingua franca, Ramakrishnan added.
The government, he said, could have continued with English medium schools but they closed them down and then realized the importance and started teaching mathematics and science in English which is again to be abandoned after 8 years.
"Such flip flops caused confusion and billions of ringgit went down the drain. Even educated Malays are looking down on our education system.
Ramakrishnan added if the education system was good in the Malay medium schools why are 70,000 Malays student in Chinese schools, there is higher Malay migration to western countries, more Malay parents send their children to private and international schools in foreign countries.
"This is a testimony of the education system that served nobody except Umno politicians. All measures to attract talents are pointing at the wrong direction. No talents are attracted by our education policies.
"Poor non Malay students with good grades can be awarded scholarships and university placements for courses that attract them. Malaysian talents are everywhere in Malaysia just that the Umnoputras can't see it," he added.
Will the people of Taman Kepong get their Permanent Title after 43 years?
Let's see if Najib's slogan Rakyat diutamakan will mean anything? RESIDENTS have already approached their Local Member of Parliament, YB Dr Tan Seng Giaw to help. For 53 years since Malaysia became Independent, the land laws have not been revised to protect the housebuyers. YB Dr Tan has agreed to raise this in the parliament soon.
14 November 2010
YB Dr Tan Seng Giaw
Member of Parliament Kepong
Dear YB Dr. Tan
40 YEARS OF NEGLECT
Residents of Taman Kepong have suddenly awakened to the fact that their land title issue has been neglected for the past 40 years since purchasing their homes in the early 1960s/70s. My family and I have also lived in this housing estate, and I only came to know about it slightly over a week ago.
On behalf of my Mother and the other residents in Taman Kepong, we urge you to expose this issue and raise it up in the parliament to ask both the Ministry of Housing and Local Government and the Ministry of Land and Cooperatives why land title issues have continued to plaque housebuyers.
The Ministry of Housing & Local Government is supposed to monitor the developers to ensure that they fulfil their responsibilities to the housebuyers. The Ministry of Land and Cooperatives is supposed to have looked into issues of land and resolve them a long time ago, instead of allowing things to continue to drag for so long.
Now, after numerous calls to the Federal Territory Land Office, I am told that there must be an application for land title either by the developer or the housebuyers, before it will be processed. WHY? Doesn’t purchasing a house also include the land as well? If the developer has failed to deliver, who is at fault now?
When I contacted the Federal Territory Land Office, they also blamed that the Surveyors Department for not providing them with the surveyors’ layout plan. I was given a mobile number of someone to contact the Surveyors Department. In the end, there was this “Ding Dong” story.
As Rakyat, we demand that the Federal Territory Land Office and Surveyors Department buck up and solve this issue in two months and hopefully this can be an Angpow for us just before the Chinese New Year on February 3 next year. There are issues that I came to know about: Taman Daya and Sri Delima, of which their MPs and State Assemblymen should also raise the issue. We cannot allow the land issues to continue to plaque housebuyers. Enough is enough!
While you raise this issue in parliament, I will also write personally to najib@pmo.gov.my and sidek@pmo.gov.my to insist on the Prime Minister and the Chief Secretary to the Government to address the issue and other land-related matters urgently in line with the Prime Minister’s promise of “Rakyat diutamak
an” and his Government Transformation Plan (GTP); otherwise, this is nothing but an empty slogan.
Thank you.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
YAB Datuk Seri Najib dan Tan Sri Mohd Sidek
PERKARA: ISU HAKMILIK SEMENTARA DI TAMAN KEPONG
Pada minggu lepas, saya terkejut melihat hakmilik tanah rumah ibu saya di Taman Kepong yang selama 40 tahun ini masih belum lagi ditukarkan kepada Hakmilik Tetap kerana kegagalan pemaju membuat “Quantity Surveyor’s Report” untuk Pejabat Tanah.
Saya amat kecewa dengan jawapan yang diterima dari pihak Pejabat Tanah Wilayah Persekutuan dan Pejabat Jurukur walaupun masalah ini sudahpun selama empat dekad masih belum dibereskan oleh kedua-dua pihak. Sehingga kini, residen di Taman Kepong hanya diberi HAKMILIK SEMENTARA.
Saya juga amat kecewa dengan kedua-dua Kementerian Perumahan & Kerajaan Tempatan dan Kementerian Tanah & Koperasi yang sel
ama ini tidak memantau prestasi pemaju-pemaju rumah samada mereka melengkapi transaksi jual-beli rumah, yang sepatutnya disertakan dengan geran tanahnya sekali.
Pelbagai masalah tanah wujud di negara ini, dan kenapa sehingga rakyat terpaksa member tekanan baru perkara ini diberi perhatian? Kenapa tidak kedua-dua Kementerian memantau pemaju, mahupun parlimen mencadangkan supaya Akta Perumahan memberi kuasa kepada pihak kerajaan untuk memaksa pemaju menyelesaikan masalah strata title dan land title dalam masa yang dihadkan? Kenapakah Kerajaan terus berpihak kepada pihak pemaju selama ini?
Untuk masalah Hakmilik Sementara di Taman Kepong, pihak penduduk memberi tempoh 2 bulan untuk pihak Pejabat Tanah Wilayah Persekutuan dan Pejabat Jurukur untuk mengemaskini perkara ini, dan pihak penduduk tidak ingin disusahpayahkan dalam masa ini.
Sekiranya perkara ini tidak beres, apakah gunanya laungan “Rakyat diutamakan” dan “Government Transformation Plan”? Sekiranya perkara ini masih tidak beres dalam tempoh dua bulan ini, saya juga akan mendermakan satu minggu masa s
aya untuk membantu YB Dr Tan Seng Giaw berkempen.
Saya syorkan YB Dr Tan supaya perkara ini dibawa ke Parlimen kerana masalah ini bukan saja melibatkan Taman Kepong, tetapi seluruh negara. Saya juga dapat tahu bahawa masalah yang sama wujud untuk penduduk-penduduk di Sri Delima dan Taman Daya.
Sekian, terimakasih.
-----------------------------------------------------------
PRESS STATEMENT
Date: 29 November 2010
Background: Taman Kepong, one of the earliest housing estates in the Klang Valley, was developed around 1965 by Kepong Development Sdn Bhd. The company has since been wound up, but the housebuyers who are mainly in their late sixties or seventies are now having to strive hard to get their temporary or qualified title (“Hakmilik Sementara”) converted to permanent title (“Hakmilik Tetap”). This issue has not been resolved despite forty years that most of them have lived here.
A press conference was called by the undersigned on 14 November 2010 to address the issue. In the press conference, YB Dr Tan Seng Giaw, MP of Kepong, had explained to residents the reason why they have been given qualified titles (“Hakmilik Sementara”) some ten years ago, instead of the permanent title (“Hakmilik Tetap”). It is learnt that the developer had failed to submit the application to the Survey and Mapping Department (Jabatan Ukur dan Pemetaan Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur or JUPEM) and the then land office to have the permanent titles issued. Although some residents are still worried that they cannot sell their properties, they now want the titles to be converted to Permanent Titles without giving them any hassles or inconvenience of having to engage their private surveyors. After all, the failure is the failure of the now defunct developer and the Ministry of Housing & Local Government to supervise the defaulting developers.
In response to the complaint raised in the media, one of the housebuyers, Madam Lee Yoke Siew, 75, received a letter from the Director of Federal Territories Land and Mines Office, Hasim Ismail to request for an official application letter and several documents before the Land Office could process the application to convert the qualified titles into permanent titles. As the son of Madam Lee, here is my response to the letter after speaking to Hasim:
a) The Director of FT Land and Mines, Hasim Ismail is fully aware that the developer has never applied to the Survey and Mapping; therefore housebuyers do not have a copy of the “Pelan Akui”. To request for a copy of such a plan is therefore an insensible proposal and does not reflect well on the seriousness of the Land Office to resolve the long outstanding issue. The last thing that housebuyers want, after purchasing the property, is to have to engage a private surveyor to carry out the survey when the defunct developer failed to carry out its obligations.
b) On November 14, the undersigned had written to the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak and the Chief Secretary to the Government, Tan Sri Sidek Hassan via email to urge the Government to solve issues relating to the land title throughout the country if the Government is serious about helping to boost housebuyers’ confidence.
c) The failure of developers to apply for individual or strata title is a reflection of failure on the part of the Ministry of Housing and Local Government and the Ministry of Land and Cooperatives to supervise the housing developers on their performance in matters relating to land. If the developer of Kepong Garden had failed, and both ministries had failed to act on the developer, this should not cause any burden to the housebuyers, many of whom are already senior citizens.
d) This is precisely the reason why I was at odds with the Director of FT Land & Mines Office who requested my mother to make available a copy of the “Pelan Akui” which he knows cannot be produced.
e) I urge the FT Land and Mines Office to issue a similar letter to all the affected residents instead of just one resident. I am appalled by the fact that the Land & Mines Office has not issued the letter to other housebuyers which clearly shows that it is not seriously looking at a solution but playing the “run around” game which the undersigned has chosen not to tango.
f) The Minister of Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing Minister Datuk Raja Nong Chik Datuk Zainal Abidin had on November 23 in an article carried by The Malay Mail had “assured over 1,000 Taman Kepong residents here all the assistance possible to obtain titles to their homes.” The housebuyers want the minister to seriously address the issue instead of allowing the two government agencies (FT Land & Mines and Surveyors & Mapping Department) to continue to drag their feet.
.
This press statement is issued by Stephen Ng, in his capacity as the son of one of the housebuyers. For more information, please contact:
Stephen Ng
43年痴等43未獲永久地契‧甲洞花園逾2千戶彷徨
2010-11-15 13:35
陳勝堯（左6）與甲洞花園居民呼吁土地局妥善處理臨時地契問題。（圖：星洲日報）
（吉隆坡14日訊）甲洞花園逾2千戶家庭等了43年後，依然不獲分發永久地契，讓居民人心惶惶！
甲洞花園興建於1963年，當初居民在購買房屋時，都認為是永久地契。
直到1993年，土地局發出臨時地契給居民並維持至今。唯居民卻未深入瞭解。
受訪居民表示，以往並不知道是臨時地契，直到居民口耳相傳，才驚覺原來居住多年的房屋竟然是臨時地契，讓他們感到茫然，並擔心未來土地將被回收，導致失去家園。
居民說，希望直轄區土地局能儘快厘清臨時地契的問題，以解決居民的疑惑。
甲洞區國會議員陳勝堯披露，在吉隆坡地區還有不少市民，面對同樣的難題。
“有關當局有必要向居民交代，居民甚麼時候才可以獲得永久地契？而如果賣了房屋，買者是否可得到永久地契？”
陳勝堯：下週會見土地局官員
他表示，將會在下星期會見直轄區土地局官員，並將居民的疑惑反映給官員，以便解決臨時地契問題。
他指出，明年自然資源和環境部的政策與策劃部門獲得640萬令吉的撥款，以確保土地行政和測量服務能夠符合政策。而直轄區及城市和諧部的撥款是5億8千500萬令吉，其中一個目標是改善有關部門的協調，使吉隆坡能成為世界級的都市。
為此他呼吁，有關部門必須監督土地局，以積極提高其透明度和公信力。
星洲日報／大都會‧2010.11.14Temporary titles land Taman Kepong in limbo
陳勝堯（左6）與甲洞花園居民呼吁土地局妥善處理臨時地契問題。（圖：星洲日報）
（吉隆坡14日訊）甲洞花園逾2千戶家庭等了43年後，依然不獲分發永久地契，讓居民人心惶惶！
甲洞花園興建於1963年，當初居民在購買房屋時，都認為是永久地契。
直到1993年，土地局發出臨時地契給居民並維持至今。唯居民卻未深入瞭解。
受訪居民表示，以往並不知道是臨時地契，直到居民口耳相傳，才驚覺原來居住多年的房屋竟然是臨時地契，讓他們感到茫然，並擔心未來土地將被回收，導致失去家園。
居民說，希望直轄區土地局能儘快厘清臨時地契的問題，以解決居民的疑惑。
甲洞區國會議員陳勝堯披露，在吉隆坡地區還有不少市民，面對同樣的難題。
“有關當局有必要向居民交代，居民甚麼時候才可以獲得永久地契？而如果賣了房屋，買者是否可得到永久地契？”
陳勝堯：下週會見土地局官員
他表示，將會在下星期會見直轄區土地局官員，並將居民的疑惑反映給官員，以便解決臨時地契問題。
他指出，明年自然資源和環境部的政策與策劃部門獲得640萬令吉的撥款，以確保土地行政和測量服務能夠符合政策。而直轄區及城市和諧部的撥款是5億8千500萬令吉，其中一個目標是改善有關部門的協調，使吉隆坡能成為世界級的都市。
為此他呼吁，有關部門必須監督土地局，以積極提高其透明度和公信力。
2010/11/17
By Dawn Chan
streets@nstp.com.my
By Dawn Chan
streets@nstp.com.my
The houses were built by Kepong Garden Development Sdn Bhd in the 1970s. — Picture by Intan Nur Elliana Zakaria
A houseowner found out about the problem when he tried to sell his house recently. He was dumbfounded when a bank officer asked him to explain why his property was under a temporary land title.
Another resident was alerted to the problem when his mother asked him to go through her documents.
The shocking news spread through the neighbourhood like wildfire.
"When I called the Federal Territory Land Office, I was told that there must be an application for the land title by the developer," said Stephen Ng, a resident.
"But doesn't purchasing a house also include the land as well? If the developer failed to deliver, who is at fault?" asked Ng.
The houses were built by Kepong Garden Development Sdn Bhd in the 1970s.
Ng, whose mother and sister live in Jalan Tiga, claimed that the Land Office also blamed the Survey And Mapping Department for not providing them with a layout plan.
The Housing and Local Government Ministry, he added, should be monitoring the activities of housing developers to ensure that they fulfill their responsibilities to house buyers.
Ng also urged Kepong member of parliament Dr Tan Seng Giaw to ask the Housing and Local Government Ministry and Natural Resources and Environment Ministry to explain why land title problems continued to plague house buyers. Ng said the ministries should study the issue and identify loopholes in the law.
"Most of us have finished paying for our houses and, as such, the permanent land title should rightfully be ours.
"We demand that the Land Office and Survey And Mapping Department solve this issue within two months," he said.
Retiree Chew Heng, 61, said: "I heard about the problem from the neighbour who tried to sell his house. I was shocked to find out I was in the same boat.
"The temporary land title means the government can ask us to move anytime to make way for development. I hope Dr Tan will be able to help us get the permanent land title," added Chew.
Dr Tan said he had met the Federal Territory Land Office to discuss the matter and that they would get back to him. He said he had also written to the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry.
Read more: Temporary titles land Taman Kepong in limbo http://www.nst.com.my/nst/articles/O2DCT/Article/#ixzz15q69KUTq
相关 照片
■ 陈胜尧 (左 六) 今 携同 多位 年过半百 的 居民 呼吁 当局 尽速 解决 临时 地契 的 问题.
手握 40 年 地契 原是 临时 地契? 吁 尽速 发 永久 地契
二零 一 零 年 十一月 十五 日 上午 十 时 五十 三分(吉隆坡 14 日 讯) 甲 洞 花园 居民 申诉, 手中 握有 40 年 的 地契 原来 只是 一 纸 临时 地契, 让 许多 年过半百 的 老 居民 错愕 不已, 焦急 吁请 有关 当局 尽速 发出 永久 地契, 以免 祸 延下一代.
居民 多年来 并无 发现 自己 手中 的 地契 是 临时 地契, 直至 近期, 其中 一位 老 居民 的 儿子 翻查 母亲 的 地契 才 发现 家 中 多年来 拥有 的 地契 并非 永久 地契, 事件 才被 揭发, 一 传 十,十 传 百, 引起 当地 居民 的 恐慌.
据悉, 甲 洞 花园 区 已有 逾 40 年 历史, 至今 约有 2 至 3000 住户. 鉴于 当年 发展 商 并无 进行 勘测 工作, 居民 于 1967 年 获得 第一 张 由 土地局 发出 的 临时 房屋 地契, 惟,当时 并没 有人 发现 该 地契 为 临时 地契, 以致 多年来 一直 无人 挺身 "声" 冤.
直至 1993 年, 土地局 发出 更换 房屋 地契 的 通知, 要求 居民 将 手中 当年 隶属 雪兰莪 州 的 地契 转换 为 联邦 直辖 区 地契. 当局 发出 的 新 地契 依然 是 临时 地契, 不过 教育 水平 不 高 的 居民 并 没有 察觉. 民主 行动 党 全国 署理 主席 兼 甲 洞 区 国会 议员 陈胜尧 质疑: "土地局 于 1993 年 因 进行 勘测 工作, 所以 才 发出 临时 地契? 倘若 如此, 居民 何时 才能 获得 永久 地契? 居民 买卖 房子 时,买者 是否 得到 永久 地契? 当局 必须 向 市民 交待. "
他 在 记者 会上 表示, 本身 将于 下周 与 土地局 约谈, 商讨 如何 解决 当地 居民 临时 地契 的 问题.
"除了 与 土地局 接洽, 我们 也 将 联络 自然资源 和 环境 部 及 直辖 区 和 繁荣 部, 透过 多管齐下 的 方式 改善 协调, 提高 效率."
陈胜尧 于 今日 接见 甲 洞 区 拥有 临时 地契 的 居民, 居民 不约而同 表示 当初 购买 房屋 时, 都 认为 手中 的 是 永久 地契, 结果 摆 了 40 年 的 乌龙.
他 不 讳言, 当地 居民 普遍 受 教育 程度 不 高, 因此 难以理解 地契 内容, 部分 居民 更 是 在 子孙 的 协助 下, 才 恍然大悟 那一 纸 已然 泛黄 的 "老" 地契 原来 还 只是 临时 的.
他 说: "居民 担忧, 永久 地契 一日 不到 手, 会 面临 房屋 被 政府 回收 的 命运. 此外, 在 买卖 房屋 方面 也会 面临 被 压价, 甚至 屋 价 下跌 的 问题."
他 指出, 在 吉隆坡 也 有 不少 市民, 面对 同样 的 难题, 他 呼吁 吉隆坡 直辖 区 土地局 竭尽 所能 解决 隆 市民 有关 临时 地契 的 问题.
"明年, 自然资源 与 环境 部 的 政策 和 策划 部门 以及 直辖 区 与 繁荣 部 将 个别 获得 6 百 40 万 令吉 及 5 亿 8500 万 令吉 的 拨款, 确保 土地 行政 和 勘测 服务 能够 符合 政策."
他 表示, 有关部门 必须 督促 土地局, 积极 提高 其 透明度 和 公信力.
两星期 前 才 发觉
居民 黄荣裕 (46 岁) 表示, 自己 是 在 两个 星期 前 才 惊觉 母亲 李玉秀 (75 岁) "珍藏" 多年 的 地契 原来 只是 临时 地契.
"追问 下, 母亲 也 回答 不出 一个 所以然 来, 我 唯有 致电 至 土地局 询问."
他 投诉, 该局 不断 "踢 足球", 将 责任 推托 至 其他 部门.
"他们 不断 要求 我 转 不同 的 电话 内线, 最后 告知 我 必须 找 测量 师 的 相关 调查 部门. 恼人 的 是, 该 部门 又 推托 表示 土地局 没有 发出 申请 通知, 因此 他们 无法 进行 任何 工作."
稍后, 他 就 此事 再度 致电 土地局, 有关 职员 竟然 告诉 他, 居民 当初 并没 要求 发 永久 地契, 令 他 为之 气 结.
他 表示, 将 给予 当局 2 个 月 的 期限 解决 临时 地契 的 问题.
"40 年 已经 过去了, 许多 居民 都已 届 花甲 高龄, 在 这里 住 了 几 十年, 领 的 却还 只是 临时 地契, 还要 他们 等 多久?"
他 呼吁 土地局 及 房屋 及 地方政府 部 能 给予 此类 案件 关注.
"这 不 只是 发生 在 甲 洞 花园, 全国 各地 也 有 土地 拥有 权 的 问题."
选择 保持 沉默
在 甲 洞 花园 居住 了 40 年 的 李先生 (78 岁) 指出, 自己 多年前 就 知道 手中 的 地契 是 临时 地契, 惟, 潇洒 的 他 选择 保持 沉默, 秉持 "总会 有人 站 出来 说话" 的 群众 心态.
他 表示, 自己 是 甲 洞 花园 最 早期 的 第 一批 入住 居民.
"我 看 不懂 英文, 是 在 孙子 的 告知 下 才 知道 那 是 临时 地契, 但是 我 也 不予理会, 反正 总会 有人 出声 的."
对 临时 地契 一无所知
居民 刘 太太 (58 岁) 表示, 自己 看 不 明白 地契 内容, 以致 多年来 对手 中 的 临时 地契 一无所知.
"我 是 听到 邻里 之间 的 传闻 才 知道 地契 有 问题."
她 希望 当局 能 尽快 解决 问题, 发出 永久 地契.
"我 担心 将来 会 没有 屋子 住, 甚至 影响 我 下一代 子孙 的 居留 问题."
Raja Nong Chik assures residents titles to their Taman Kepong homes
Tuesday, November 23rd, 2010 11:01:00
RAJA NONG CHIK: Our help depends on the FT Land and Mines report
"But our help depends on the report from the Federal Territories Land and Mines Office, which is under the purview of the ministry. We have not received the report yet.
"Urging residents to also report the matter to the Housing and Local Government Ministry, the minister also explained how these residents had obtained permanent land titles to homes they had been staying in for about 40 years.
He said the developer, Kepong Garden Development Sdn Bhd, which built the houses in the 1970s, absconded and did not pay fees for the final title to be given. As such, these homes were given only temporary or qualified titles.
Given this situation, the minister said: "Anyway, there is a certain amount of money owing from the developer to the land authority. This was supposed to have been paid a long time ago by the developer. Now, the developer is not around. Who's going to pay for all this?"
Meanwhile, FT Land and Mines Office director Hasim Ismail said the qualified land title was still in a valid ownership status. "Properties with this qualified title can be sold off or transferred. It is similar to the final or permanent title, the only difference is the plot's borders have yet to be defined.
"Hasim however admitted there could be some problems if a property with the qualified title had restrictions in the title grant. "If the grant is qualified as 'Restriction in Interest' (Sekatan Kepentingan), it cannot be sold without the State authority's consent, which in this case, means the Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing Ministry.
So, to sell the property, the owner would need to get the ministry's approval."Asked why residents were only given qualified titles, he said: "The Survey and Mapping Department has to conduct on-the-ground survey and issue a certified plan first.
This might not have been completed yet."Hasim said his office would check with the department on whether such a survey had been done to facilitate the acquiring of the final titles for the affected residents.
"I will look into it as soon as possible."Resident Stephen Ng, 46, welcomed the move but said would only be relieved after the final title was given.
"They have to keep their word.
"Ng, whose mother and sister also live in the neighbourhood, was frustrated with the Land and Mines Office as he was given the runaround when he asked them about the title.
"All this while, residents lived there under the impression they have the final titles. Why are they wasting our time? These have been dragging for so long.
"After 40 years, residents should finally have the full ownership to their homes," he said.
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