Ethnic Indians resist move by developer to get them vacated

Around 300 ethnic Indian residents of a tiny enclave in Malaysia's Penang state are resisting a bid by a developer who wants the families to vacate the private land they have occupied for generations.

Around 300 ethnic Indian residents of a tiny enclave in Malaysia's Penang state are resisting a bid by a developer who wants the families to vacate the private land they have occupied for generations.

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The majority of the Buah Pala village also known as High Chapperal residents have rejected developer Nusmetro Ventures (P) Sdn Bhd's offer to compensate each temporary occupation licence (TOL) holder with a double-storey terrace house.

The village Residents Association chairman M Sugumaran yesterday said 16 out of 24 TOL holders were not in favour of the offer.

"Agreeing to the terms will be like walking straight into a lion's den," he said.

Sugumaran said if the residents accepted the offer, they would have to sign an agreement with the developer, vacate the land by tomorrow and withdraw all the court cases against the developer and landowner.

"The offer document given to us by the developer also stated that should the planning approval for the row of houses offered to us is not given, the compensation would be cancelled," he said.