PENANG GOVERMENT WANT TG TO'KONG TO BE HERITAGE SITE HERITAGE SITE

Penang govt wants Kg Tanjung Tokong to be a heritage site

Posted on 30 January 2012 - 05:57pm
Last updated on 30 January 2012 - 06:54pm

GEORGE TOWN (Jan 30, 2012): The state government is in discussion with UDA Holdings Bhd which wants to develop land occupied by the 250-year old Kampung Tanjung Tokong in Penang, to have it conserved as a heritage site.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng expressed hope that UDA, formerly known as the Urban Development Authority under the Prime Minister’s Department ,will respect the state’s wish to preserve the oldest Malay village in the state.

“They have refused to recognise Kampung Tanjung Tokong as a heritage village,” he said today.

“We hope UDA can respect the state government’s wishes just as we have to respect UDA as the landowner.”

On Nov 3 last year Lim had told the Penang State Assembly that the state government has decided to classify the village as a heritage site.

The move has been welcomed by residents being told to move out including activist Mohd Salleh Yahaya who said there is potential to turn the village into a historical and cultural enclave with proper facilities for visitors.

The village existed as a fishing settlement even before the former British colonialists first landed in Penang in 1786.

Speaking at a press conference, Lim said the classification was a first step to preserve the village or at least ensure some identity of the settlement is maintained.

He noted, however, that the federal government, which owns UDA, does not recognise the state’s heritage classification.
“This is no ordinary landowner. UDA is the federal government,” he said.

“We hope there can be some compromise and agreement on this matter. We cannot allow the problem to drag on,” he added.

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SAVING ANCIENT MALAY VILLAGE IN PENANG

Posted on 15 February 2012 - 07:49pm
Last updated on 15 February 2012 - 10:02pm

Himanshu Bhatt

BY April 1972, Prime Minister Tun Abdul Razak visited Kampung Tanjung Tokong, a Malay settlement in Penang said to have existed as a fishing community since before the British colonialists landed on the island in 1786.

Razak's visit was featured on the front page of the now defunct Straits Echo, which reported him telling the 7,000-odd villagers that he understood they were not owners of the land. The report, however, added that the government planned to make them settle there permanently.

Some 40 years later, villagers and heritage activists have found a glimmer of hope that the historic settlement – which has since been earmarked for demolition for a development project - can be preserved after all.

The Penang legislative assembly was told in November last year that the state government had decided to formally recognise Kampung Tanjung Tokong as a heritage village.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng told the assembly that the village would have its status "restored" by being reclassified as a heritage kampung.

This is an intriguing turn of events; not least because the agency that now owns the land and plans to develop a high-density project there is UDA Holdings Bhd - formerly the Urban Development Authority - under the Prime Minister's Department.

While Lim has described the classification as a "first step" to preserve the village, or at least ensure some identity is maintained, UDA is known to have wanted the residents to leave.

The issue about conserving the settlement has become a passionate one, because it is regarded as among the oldest living legacies of the Malays.

According to anthropologist Datuk Wazir Jahan Karim, family histories here go back over 300 years, with some having drawn up their complex genealogies from the time English sea captain Francis Light landed on the island.

"This is unique to Penang's urban history when you consider that Tanjung Tokong is even older than George Town," she has written, highlighting also the peaceful co-existence the villagers had with the Chinese community as an important feature.

There is also an ancient cemetery nestled on a small hill near the village that has kept the remains of some of the earliest inhabitants of the island, predating the arrival of the British.

Interestingly, Wazir had also provided an explanation of how the original Malay inhabitants were left without land ownership.

For while early migrants like the Chinese, Europeans and Indians understood the processes of colonisation better and rapidly submitted claims on land and titles, the Malays thought that the lands they had inhabited for hundreds of years were theirs, hence very few applied for land titles. Most of the original Malays could also not afford to pay for such titles.

The state government is now understood to be in discussion with UDA to have the place conserved. "We hope UDA can respect the state government's wishes just as we also have to respect UDA as the landowner," Lim had said.

The state had in May 2010 received a detailed plan from villagers and NGO representatives for controlled development and conservation of key parts of the historic village.

What makes the site additionally significant is its location along the road to the popular Batu Ferringhi-Tanjung Bungah area which is now a tourism belt. Proponents have pointed out that this makes it an ideal place to showcase living Malay heritage to visitors.

In fact, Tanjung Tokong and Tanjung Bungah used to contain nucleated Malay fishing villages, dotted all along the coastline up to Teluk Bahang. Many of these are now gone.

Dramatically enough, the seashore the village faced – and on which its fisher-folk community depended for two centuries - is also no longer there. It was reclaimed a decade ago, leaving the village land-locked, blocked from the sea by a modern luxury township.

It now remains to be seen, with the latest turn of events to officially mark the village as a heritage site, if this rare remnant of Malay history can be prevented from also being wiped out into oblivion.

Himanshu is theSun's Penang bureau head. Comments: letters@thesundaily.com

Perkembangan Terbaru Warisan Tanjong To'Kong

Final discussion to make Tanjung Tokong heritage site

Posted on 9 March 2012 - 05:29am

GEORGE TOWN (March 8, 2012): The Penang government is in the final stages of discussion with UDA Holdings Bhd towards having a heritage initiative for Kampung Tanjong Tokong, which has been slated for demolition for a high-density residential project.

Penang Deputy Chief Minister (I) Datuk Mansor Othman today said while the relocation of the residents has been agreed upon, a concept for a heritage enclave is also being discussed.

He expressed optimism that the matter would be finalised within a month, adding the 250-year old settlement would be vacated to give way for construction of a re-built village.

"The villagers will be placed in transit homes during the reconstruction of the village," he said.

"Once completed, they will move back to the new homes," he said, adding that it would take between a year and 18 months for the heritage village to be built.

However, Mansor told reporters to be patient on the kind of heritage concept to be adopted. "Be patient, we will announce it soon," he said at a press conference at his office here.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng had in November last year told the Penang State Assembly that the state government has decided to classify the village as a heritage site.

The village existed as a fishing settlement even before the former British colonialists first landed in Penang in 1786.

The site has been slated for a massive residential development project by UDA Holdings, formerly known as the Urban Development Authority, under the Prime Minister’s Department.

The state had in 2010 received a detailed plan put forward by non-governmental organisation representatives and villagers for controlled development and conservation of key parts of the historic area.

The plan included preserving important elements of the village and the creation of a buffer around it.

On another matter, Mansor said the state has yet to receive confirmation of an audience with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong with regards to the appointment of the new Penang Islamic Affairs Council (MAIPP) president.

"We are waiting for a date," he said, adding it was the King's prerogative to appoint the new MAIPP president with the consultation of the state

MAPAN MELAYU PULAU PINANG RAKYAT TERPINGGIR DI MALAYSIA

BLOG ini diwujudkan untuk menganalisis punca rakyat terpinggir di Pulau Pinang dan bagaimana untuk mengatasinya dengan tekad dan formula yang konkrit. Kita menggunakan istilah MAPAN kependekan untuk menyebut dan mengistilahkan Melayu Pulau Pinang.Kebetulan Melayu P.Pinang mengalami keterpinggiran yang berterusan sejak dari zaman penjajahan.Gejala ini terakam menerusi pantun dan ungkapan bersejarah:

Pulau Pinang bandar baharu
Kepten Light menjadi raja
Kalau di kenang masa yang lalu
Rasa menitis si air mata

Pi mai pi dok tang tu jugak

Balik Pulau Bayan Lepas
Sana terpelau sini terlepas

Tanjong Tok Kong Batu Feringhi
China untung Melayu rugi

Perahu layar belayar laju
Laju menuju Lautan China
Merdeka pasti kan kita tuju
Yang lain untung Melayu merana!

Ia gagal diselesaikan meski pun negara telah lebih 50 tahun merdeka dan akan memasuki Rancangan Malaysia ke 10. Mustahil selepas 1O RMK masih ada rakyat yang masih terpinggir di bumi bertuah ini. Kerajaan berjaya menjelmakan kumpulan korprat Melayu yang perkasa menerusi dasar-dasar pengkorpratan yang jelas, mustahil mereka terlepas pandang kepada rakyat terpinggir yang begitu ketara di Pulau Pinang.

Apakah puncanya ?Mari kita sama-sama menganalisnya.

Perlu diingat dulu sebahagian besar orang Melayu menyalahkan faktor kepimpinan iaitu kekurangan wakil MAPAN di peringkat kerajaan Pusat.Jadi MAPAN tidak mempunyai suara. Bermula dengan Datuk Abdullah Ahmad Badawi,Anwar Ibrahim,Ibrahim Saad dan Nor Muhammad Yaakub.

Jadi kita sudah mempunyai wakil-wakil yang kuat di peringkat kerajaan pusat seawal 1980an. Malahan MAPAN telah pernah menjadi PM dari 2004-2008 menerusi perlantikan Datuk Sri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi menjadi PM ke 5. Namun masalah Melayu/Rakyat terpinggir ini masih ditakuk lama. Apakah puncanya ?

Adakah ketiadaan peruntukan untuk menolong mereka atas nama MELAYU kononnya bersifat perkauaman. Sebagai rakyat tidakkah wajar mereka dibantu? Punca bagi MAPAN ialah mereka telah kehilangan habitat "tempat untuk hidup". Kampung-kampung mereka hilang satu persatu dengan terancangg tanpa ada tindakan untuk mengatasi.

Malahan tanah dikiri kanan masjid pun boleh dibeli dengan bebas tanpa kawalan. Masjid kehilangan kariah dan akhirnya ditinggalkan. Apakah para pemimpin Melayu tidak nampak tentang gejala ini? Tanah adalah punca keterpinggiran dan hapusnya Melayu di P.Pinang.

Kita bedrbangga dengan kemajuan negara tetapi kemajuan negara tidak bererti kejayaan rakyat secara merata. Pulau Pinang kekurangan tanah dan rancangan perumahan yang dilaksanakan bersifat komersial yang keterlaluan. Rakyat marhain langsung tidak ada ruang dan peluang untuk memasukinya.

Sedangkan kerajaan adalah penangggung jawap sosial yang terbesar untuk menyelesaikan masalah perumahan rakyat?Lihat apa yang berlaku.

Di Tg Tok Kong kampung bersejarah yang dibuka Melayu sebelum kedatangan penjajah. Di akui dalam buku sejarah Malaysia Pictoral History 1400 -2000 sebagai contoh kampung nelayan tepi laut yang unggul di Malaya dan ada gambarnya. Britih tebusguna dengan menggunakan duit wakaf,buat kampung moden. Ini sebagai balasan akibat dasar-dasar British kapitalisnya menjarah tanah-tanah pribumi.Ada juga kebaikan dan ihsan penjajah.

Selepas merdeka berlaku tebusguna yang besar seluas 1000 ekar(50 kali kampung Tanjong Tok Kong) satu inci pun tidak diberi untuk penambahan dan perluasan kampung Tanjong Tok Kong yang sesak ni. Semuanya dikurnia kepada swasta.Dulu ada singn board kononnya projek itu akan dibuat oleh KGN dan PDC.

Kepentingan kerajaan dalam kedua agensi itu pun dihilangkan dalam sekelip mata. Jadi rakyat terpinggirkerana memang mereka telah dipinggir dengan sengaja. Setuju tak ? Persatuan Penduduk Kampung Tanjong Tokong usulkan 100 ekar kawasan tebusguna diberi kepada rakyat. Tak ada satu cawangan UMNO pun sokong.Para pemimpinnya pun tak response. Buat-buat tak dengar. Telinga dan mata mereka telah ditutup dengan apa.Sengaja buat pekak.

Dasar Pakatan rakyat

Dasar Pakatan Rakyat

1. Demokrasi Telus dan Tulen

A – Negara Perlembagaan dan Kedaulatan Undang-Undang

B – Pemisahan Kuasa

C – Sistem Pilihanraya Yang Bersih, Bebas dan Adil

2. Memacu Ekonomi Berprestasi Tinggi, Mapan dan Adil

A – Ekonomi Kemahiran Tinggi

B – Ekonomi Demokratik dan Telus

C – Desentralisasi dan Pengupayaan Pengurusan Ekonomi Negeri

D – Dasar Afirmatif Berdasarkan Keperluan

E – Tenaga Kerja

F – Jaringan Perlindungan Sosial

G- Perumahan

H- Prasarana dan Kemudahan Awam

I- Alam Sekitar

3. Keadilan Sosial dan Pembangunan Insan

A – Perpaduan dan Keadilan Sosial

B – Agama

C – Pendidikan

D – Wanita dan Institusi Keluarga

E – Golongan Muda

F – Keselamatan

G – Kesihatan

H- Kebudayaan

4. Hubungan Persekutuan-Negeri dan Dasar Luar Negara

A – Sistem Persekutuan

B – Sabah dan Sarawak

C – Dasar Luar Negara

MUAFAKAT RAKYAT

Pakatan Rakyat menyediakan suatu rencana dasar dan kebijakan untuk membawa keluar bangsa dan negara dari kemelut yang semakin meruncing.

Agenda pembangunan bangsa telah tergelincir akibat dari faham perkauman sempit, politik adu domba dan “demokrasi otoritarian”. Ekonomi merudum akibat dari keruntuhan akal budi, kerakusan rasuah dan kebijakan-kebijakan usang yang menyebabkan Malaysia tercicir ke belakang dari ekonomi-ekonomi rancak serantau.

Ketidakadilan ekonomi semakin ketara dengan melebarnya jurang antara golongan kaya dengan miskin, antara bandar, desa dan pendalaman antara Semenanjung dan Sabah dan Sarawak.

Peningkatan jenayah mengancam keselamatan nyawa dan harta rakyat kerana pasukan polis disalahgunakan untuk tujuan politik sempit. Kewibawaan dan kebebasan sistem kehakiman terus digasir oleh campur tangan politik dan kepentingan perniagaan.

Setengah abad Malaysia merdeka dan berdaulat sewajarnya mendewasakan. Ini diterjemahkan manakala rakyat dari pelbagai kaum mempamerkan semangat baru meleburkan kerangka pemikiran usang dan jumud, menolak kerakusan kuasa, merebaknya rasuah, merompak khazanah negara dan menginjak hak rakyat.

Menginsafi semangat rakyat tersebut maka Pakatan Rakyat mengikrarkan iltizam kami untuk menghayati dan melaksanakan agenda politik baru ke arah menggembleng tenaga rakyat dari pelbagai kaum, agama dan budaya yang dilihat sebagai satu kekuatan.

Malah kami yakin; kita mampu berubah dari dasar perkauman sempit kepada kerukunan hidup beragama, nilai kemanusiaan, berlandaskan prinsip akhlak dan etika hak asasi, prinsip negara hukum tanpa memilih darjat, kaum atau kelompok. Dasar yang terpasak dari kepatuhan kepada Perlembagaan dan prinsip-prinsip keadilan sejagat akan menjamin keluhuran undang-undang dan kebebasan sistem kehakiman, sebagaimana ia menjamin hak-hak asasi manusia dan maruah rakyat kekal terbela dan dimartabatkan.

Pakatan Rakyat berkeyakinan bahawa ekonomi Malaysia mampu dipacu dengan lebih pantas melalui dasar ekonomi pasaran yang manusiawi yang mengarah kepada pembangunan manusia seutuhnya. Kebijakan ekonomi harus menjadikan Malaysia mampu berdaya saing, iklim pelaburan yang sihat, percukaian progresif, tetapi kukuh dengan hasrat mencapai keadilan melalui kaedah pengagihan ekonomi yang adil terutama bagi kelompok miskin dan terpinggir.

Pakatan Rakyat menolak dasar yang membuka ruang kepada rasuah dan lain-lain jenayah kewangan serta penyalahgunaan kuasa. Demi memastikan pertumbuhan yang mapan, dasar menindas yang hanya memperkayakan segelintir perlu digantikan dengan sebuah dasar yang memastikan bantuan kepada golongan miskin di Malaysia tanpa mengira kaum.

Berdasarkan latar belakang ini kami mengajak rakyat Malaysia mencipta suatu muafakat baru yang berteraskan keadilan untuk semua dan prinsip-prinsip perlembagaan. Ini adalah agenda yang mesti dilakukan untuk mengembalikan maruah bangsa, kebebasan rakyat dan kemuliaan insan. Hanya dengan keadilan semua rakyat akan makmur dan bersatu padu.

Pembangunan Semula Kampung Warisan Tg Tok Kong

Menurut Pengerusi UDA Holdings yang baru, Datuk Nor Jazlan UDA telah merancang pembangunan semula Kampung Tanjong Tok Kong selama 40 tahun tetapi gagal melaksanakannya cita-cita murni tersebut kerana telah digagalkan oleh segelintir anasir-anasir di dalam kampung yang berkepentingan diri,Mereka tidak ingin melihat rancangan murni menempatkan Melayu dalam kehidupan bandar terlaksana. Benarkah begitu? Siapakah mereka yang begitu berjaya menggagalkan rancangan besar kerajaan itu? Mari kita meneliti apa yang sebenarnya telah berlaku ?