Pemenang suggests discussion on best approach to save Kampung Batu Uban

GEORGE TOWN (Feb 2): The Penang Malays Association (Pemenang) plans to meet with professionals and historians to discuss the best approach to save Kampung Batu Uban.

Its chairman Datuk Seri Mohd Yussof Latiff said the meeting would be held soon and a memorandum would be prepared at the meeting to be submitted to the federal government through Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop.

"I believe the memorandum will receive the attention of the government.

"Our approach is to be the go-between for discussions with the state and federal governments on how to save the village," he told a news conference, here, on Thursday.

He said Pemenang would also be inviting representatives from the National Heritage Department to the meeting.

Mohd Yussof said among the matters to be discussed would be the proposal to make Kampung Batu Uban a Malay heritage village and the development that could be implemented in the village.

"Our aim is to save Kampung Batu Uban as a Malay settlement. Our wish is for the development to take place there to be one that benefits the residents. We are not anti-development, but the development should not sacrifice the area's Malay identity," he said.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng at a press conference held at his office in Komtar, here, said he had not received information on the Kampung Batu Uban issue.

Asked on calls by various quarters including non-governmental organisations for the village to be made a Malay heritage village, Lim declined to comment.— Bernama