GEORGE TOWN: The nine families from the former Kampung Buah Pala here are delighted with the offer of double-storey houses costing RM220,000 each in Teluk Air Tawar on the mainland.

They are jumping at the chance as there is no other option.

Their former residents association chairman M. Sugumaran said they were overjoyed as the offer “is better than nothing at all.”

“The villagers will definitely accept the houses despite their location in North Seberang Prai. We have no other choice.

“However, the offer is still under negotiation and has yet to be finalised,” he said when contacted yesterday.

Sugumaran expressed gratitude to the Federal Government for extending help to them on humanitarian grounds.

It was reported yesterday that 18 houses in Taman Sejahtera Indah would be given to nine former temporary occupation licence (TOL) holders and nine members of their extended families on “compassionate grounds” following intervention by the Prime Minister’s Department.

Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, when asked at a press conference in Kom- tar yesterday, said he was unaware of the allocation and declined further comment.

When contacted, Seri Delima assemblyman R.S.N. Rayer expressed surprise over the offer of the double-storey houses.

“Though I am happy that the residents are given a new roof over their heads, it is also disappointing because the Federal Govern-ment should have allocated property on the island for them,” he said when contacted yesterday.

Last October, 24 families who accepted the compensation package received keys to their double-storey houses said to be worth more than RM500,000 each at the new Taman Buah Pala.

On Nov 4, Deputy Chief Minister II Dr P. Ramamsamy said the Kampung Buah Pala saga was “over” since the other nine families had rejected the compensation.

SOURCE: The Star