RM 1.90 million compensation awarded to Tmn Kota Permai flash flood victims

The long wait is over. After fighting for justice and compensation for nearly three and a half years, the Tmn Kota Permai flash flood victims finally get a nod from JPP and its ministry for whooping compensation worth RM 1.90 million.

Bernard Cheen, the Tmn Kota Permai spokesman said that the victims are satisfied with the amount. He stressed that the amount compensated is to ease the losses the victims incurred for the past few years and no one is making any kind of profit from this settlement.

He praised the continuous effort put up by Tan Teik Cheng, the ex Adun of Padang Lalang and those who have helped to make this possible.

Video by Jimmy Leow, Citizen Journalist

IKRAM restudy structural damages at Tmn Kota Permai

On the 15th July 2010, a group of residents from Taman Kota Permai, Penang, who have been suffering flash floods and structural damages for the past three years, made their long trek to Putrajaya to submit a memorandum to minister Peter Chin Fah Kui was met with a rebuff from the Green Technology, Energy and Water Ministry.

The problems are caused by the Sewerage Services Department's RM73 million sewerage development project under the ministry in their locality.

After much pressure from the residents, the ministry agrees to send a team geo-technical investigators to re-access the current situation. IKRAM has started their investigation early last week.

Video by Jimmy Leow, Citizen Journalist

Underground detonation rattles homes

Several house owners at Jalan Kota Permai, Penang, started to notice cracks on their walls which they claimed to be caused by the underground blasting by JPP's contractors nearby.

Adun Padang Lalang, Tan Cheong Heng inspected two homes and urged JPP to look into this issue and stop all works immediately in order to get proper reports from related authorities.

Tan added that this could be another Taman Kota Permai case where nearly 70 over houses were effected.

Video by Jimmy Leow Beng Hock, Citizen Journalist

JPP, jangan tipu kami

Taman Kota Permai, Bukit Mertajam flash flood and structural damage compensation issues have yet to be finalized by JPP despite several meetings held between MPSP, JPP and the residents.

A few months ago, MPSP President Haji Mokhtar Mohd Jait visited the flood area and houses which suffered structural damage due to the sewage plant construction nearby. His visit had given new hope to bring JPP back to the negotiating table. But the follow up meeting after the visit did not bring any positive results.

Fed up with the situation, residents of Taman Kota Permai led by Bernard Cheen handed over a memorandum to Penang Chief Minister, Lim Guan Eng on Jan 01, 2010. Ng Wei Aik, the political secretary of Lim was assigned to look into the matter quickly. Despite strong support from the state government and MPSP, no concrete solution was drawn out to the favor of the victims.

Due to this, a meeting was called to iron out the grievances between the residents and JPP. Representatives from Penang State Government, MPSP, UPEN and JPP were those present in the meeting. The state government and the related parties should understand that the residents have endured so much difficulties continuously for the past 3 years. To date, according to Bernard Cheen, at least 30 flash floods occurred during this period of time.

One resident, Tan Ah Heok, 83 said, " When it rains heavily at night, we cannot sleep because we need to keep a watchful eye on the water level, how can we live like this?".

Video by Jimmy Leow Beng Hock, Citizen Journalist.

Padang Lalang Adun explains

Adun : I will continue to help Tmn Kota Permai's residents from Jimmy Leow on Vimeo.

The videos " Flood victims : Adun not helping us Part I & 2" have caused quite a stir at Tmn Kota Permai, Bukit Mertajam, Penang.

The Padang Lalang representative, YB Tan Cheong Heng was dissatisfied with the content of the videos.

He claimed that he was not given a fair chance to "defend" his position on the flood matter.

In order to paint a better picture of the issue, Tan has agreed to have a one to one interview with CJ Jimmy Leow.

Adun request CJ's videos taken down

Adun fuming over CJ's flood videos from Jimmy Leow on Vimeo.

Adun Padang Lalang, Tan Cheong Heng was dissatisfied with citizen journalist Jimmy Leow videos "Flood victims : Adun did not help us Part I & II which he claims to be unprofessionally done and one sided.

Tan said in the press conference that he was not given the chance to explain his side of the story.

He has requested Leow to remove the videos from his blog, youtube and Malaysiakini.

Jimmy Leow is a trained citizen journalist and has been contributing a lot of videos pertaining to human rights, religious understanding and the environment.