Another 99 shophouses Stutong project to enrich the BN leaders?

Jalan Peace Selatan squatters did not have the peace they desire- they are now living in fear of when they would be evicted, no thanks to the SUPP.

I have read with disgust in the local papers at what the SUPP had done to the squatters last Sunday. Calling in a team of SUPP members, the group had knowingly or unknowingly persuaded the squatters to sign the form of Land and Survey with the powerful clause of removing them from the land without compensation.

The almost 200 families consisting of poor Dayaks and Chinese had been staying there for ages, some as long as four decades. It may mean little to people who have houses, but for these squatters who had been promised before that they would be resettled, it has been a long wait for them, some who had passed on while waiting.

Just before Chinese New Year, the Land and Survey arrived at their door steps asking them to sign the survey forms with the unfair clause whereby the state government has every right to kick the residents out from the land without having to pay them a single cent of compensation.

I have gone down, explained to them, get them a new form which many of them had given their personal data and send them to the Land and Survey officer, Kesuma Haji Sitam. Kesuma told me that the forms I handed over were sufficient as they contained the personal details of the squatters.

So now why should they go back again on April 4 with the SUPP members to help them explain to the people to sign the very forms they had given in the first place?

A few residents called me up and I advised the residents not to sign them. Although assuring the SUPP and Land and Survey that they would hand over the forms on April 11, a few residents told me that the majority of them did not sign. They only signed after it was agreed that the clause be crossed out.

I have said it in a few Dewan sittings asking the government to please resettled them in the same area and upgrade their basic facilities.

When it comes to land issue, the government gets very sensitive. I keep on harping that the cronies had been given ten of thousands of land so what is 8 points to these squatters who had been there for decades.

After all the battles I have fought for the squatters, SUPP came right into it and helped the Land and Survey to take away the squatters’ rights.

I think before the SUPP do such thing, they must ask themselves if they are helping these people. Is the Land and Survey making use of the SUPP or is it the other way round. Will this piece of land be another Stutong Land 99 shophouse project to enrich the BN leaders?

Whatever it is, leave the squatters alone. Do not deny them a place they have been staying for the past forty years. The government should give them the right to call their house a home. How much longer do you want them to suffer not knowing they would be chased out anytime?

Travel Ban Lifted

Source: www.malaysianmirror.com
Chris Reubens Friday, 09 April 2010 00:00
PETALING JAYA – Sandy Lai is one happy lady after learning that she has won her "freedom" back. The former college student who was barred from going overseas by the National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) for purportedly not settling her loan is now free to travel without restrictions. The corporation's public relations officer, Noora Md Yusoff, told Malaysian Mirror that it discovered the blacklisting error after conducting an internal investigation. "As an immediate step, we have removed the former student's name from the blacklist on April 7. Show in black and white Yong (left) helping Lai sort through the paperwork on her case last week. "At the same time, we are seeking to recover the full amount of loan purportedly disbursed for the ex-student from the parties involved," she said, adding that the corporation would like to apologise to Lai for the trouble caused. Lai, when contacted by the Mirror, said she was delighted with the latest development in the long-running case that was first highlighted by the news portal last week. "I am very happy to hear that. (Pending assemblywoman) Violet (Yong) has told my sister who informed me this (yesterday) afternoon. "However, I want to see the letter in black and white before I believe PTPTN again," she said. Loan that never was Lai had approached Pending state assemblywoman Violet Yong for help when the problem first cropped up. The 28-year-old woman from Sibu had applied for a RM15,000 loan from the corporation in 2001 when she was studying Computer Science at Chermai College in Kuching. She, however, did not receive the approved loan during her two years of studies. Her education was funded by an elder sister. In 2003, Lai completed the course and was shocked to find a letter from the corporation the next year asking her to settle her loan. Lai and her sister then approached the college, which admitted it had received the loan of RM15,000 from the corporation. The college agreed to pay back the corporation by instalment. Yong said Lai thought that was the end of the matter but each year, the lender would send her a letter, telling her to settle the loan. College closed in 2008 Yong then helped Lai by getting the college and the lender to agree to update their records in the hope such letters would stop being issued. It didn't, and Lai chose to ignore the reminders. On Feb 19 this year, she received a letter from the legal department of the corporation informing her that she has been barred from travelling overseas. Lai said she had to go abroad in two months' time. Yong said the college has since closed in 2008. The assemblywoman had threatened to bring the issue up at the state legislative assembly if the corporation could not resolve the dispute. Help appreciated Lai expressed gratitude to Yong for solving her case. She said the problem had caused mental anguish since it began, adding that she had never owed people or even her friends' money. "I felt I was very unfairly treated and it was a burden for me to bear all these years. I hope other students would not be facing such problems like me," she said. Lai said she was repaying the loan from her sister in stages.

Ex-Student barred from going abroad after loan mess

Source: www.malaysianmirror.com
Chris Reubens Sunday, 04 April 2010 23:46
KUCHING – The Pending state assemblywoman alleged that a former college student was unfairly barred from going overseas by the National Higher Education Fund Corporation. Violet Yong said the former student applied for a RM15,000 loan from the corporation in 2001 when she was studying Computer Science at Chermai College here. Lai (right) discussing with Yong the next course of action to take. Applied but never received loan The Sibu lass, who wish to be identified only as Lai, however did not receive the approved loan during her two years of studies. Her education was funded by an elder sister. In 2003, Lai completed the course and was shocked to find a letter from the corporation the next year asking her to settle her loan. Lai, 28, and her sister then approached the college which admitted it had received the loan of RM15,000 from the corporation. The college agreed to pay back the corporation by instalment. Infuriating letters Yong said Lai thought that was the end of the matter but each year, the lender would send her a letter, telling her to settle the loan. Yong then helped Lai by getting the college and the lender to agree to update their records in the hope such letters would stop being issued.. It didn't and Lai chose to ignore the reminders. On Feb 19 this year, she received a letter from the legal department of the corporation informing her that she has been barred from travelling overseas. Lai said she had to travel overseas in two months time. Yong said the college has since closed in 2008. Lender blamed Yong slammed the corporation for its inefficiency despite every attempt to straighten the problem. She said the corporation's delay in approving loans was hampering poor students who wish to further their studies. “Not everyone has a sister who is willing or capable of helping out." Yong said on Friday that she would write to the corporation again to tell it to rescind the blacklisting order, failing which she would raise the matter in Parliament.