4 theSun | MONDAY APRIL 27 2009

news without borders

‘Living heritage’ seeks

papal help over eviction
by Himanshu Bhatt
newsdesk@thesundaily.com
GEORGE TOWN: The Catholic
Church has asked a 100-year-old com-
munity in the only kampung left in
George Town’s Unesco heritage zone
to vacate, prompting the Vatican to be
alerted about the matter.
Sources told theSun the long-time
residents of the historic quarters on the
grounds of the Francis Xavier Church
have been told to move out by the end
of May.
A notice was issued by the office
of the Titular Roman Catholic Bishop
of Penang, the owner of the premises,
through its lawyer on Feb 23.
and poor.
“The Catholic organisation is a role
model to the world and we are appeal-
ing to you and to God to help us,” he
said.
It is understood that most of the
residents are more than 55 years old
and surviving on low income.
The community has also appealed
to the bishop, Anthony Selvanayagam,
reasoning that it is beyond their abili-
ties to find new homes at the moment,
and they need time to get money for
deposit payments for their banks and
lawyers. They said they are in fear of
losing their homes after May 31.
Writer Khoo Salma Nasution de-
scribed the kampung as an important

It is learnt that the plight of the
residents has been brought to the at-
tention of the Vatican. A source said the
residents made a papal appeal through
veteran resident and church pianist
A Martin Agustin, who wrote to Pope
Benedict XVI.
In his letter, Martin said the bishop’s
notice to vacate was made as the land
is to be sold to the Cititel Hotel group.
“We represent the poor and minority
group rooted almost 100 years occupy-
ing this ground,” he wrote to the Pope.
“We don’t know whom to turn to as
many of us are old, homeless, widows
Man drowns after rescuing child
IPOH: A man was found drowned after
rescuing a child who was struggling in a
river in Teluk Intan yesterday.
Nazrul Salam Abu Bakar, 36, disap-
peared underwater after rescuing the
unidentified 11-year-old in the incident
SHARIL AMIN/THESUN
living heritage and the only one left in
the inner city besides the coastal clan
jetties.
The church was founded in 1852
under the former colonial British
administration, primarily for Tamil-
speaking Christians.
The residents were initially asked Khalid and
to vacate the premises by Nov 30 last
year. They were later given an exten-
sion until May 31.
It is understood the residents are
being offered ex-gratia payment of
RM10,000 each, with rental arrears to
participants
of the
Earth Day
celebrations
trekking
along the
Clean-up of Klang
River from June
be deducted from the amount. joggers’ trail
in the Kota
Damansara
community
about 1.30pm, Bernama reports. park.
In another incident, an unidentified
man drowned when the boat he was in,
capsized in Tasik Raban, Lenggong, about
6pm on Saturday. His body was sent to by Tim Leonard ter retention areas to control the flow of water
the Teluk Intan Hospital for post mortem. newsdesk@thesundaily.com from the sea to the land and vice-versa.”
On another note, Khalid said the forest park
PETALING JAYA: The Selangor government in Kota Damansara will be gazetted as a forest
will embark on a massive exercise to clean up reserve within three months.
Klang River from June. He said the forest park would be “given” to

Malaysia-France University Centre

Mentri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim
said yesterday different sectors of the 120km-
long river would be divided among schools,
Centre Universitaire Franco-Malaisien NGOs and other community groups, including
state agencies.
“It is our collective responsibility to keep
our rivers clean,” he said after officiating
Opportunities for Earth Day celebrations at the Kota Damansara
Community Forest Park.
the people of Kota Damansara because they
have put a lot of effort into rehabilitating and
preserving the forest in their place.
“We want this forest to be an example to
other folk in the state on how they can also
play a role in the conservation of mother
nature,” he said.
The community forest park is an effort by
Kota Damansara residents to conserve and

Higher Education in France He said the cleaning up of Klang River

could take a few years to complete.
“Besides beautifying Selangor, the cleaning
up process will reduce flooding in the Klang
Valley,” Khalid said.
Date : 12 May 2009 “The state government is also building wa-
Time : 8.30 a.m.
Venue : Legend Hotel, Kuala Lumpur
protect the forest, which is the last portion left
of the Sungai Buloh forest reserve.
The 354ha forest is home to abundant flora
and fauna, and a lake.
A 650m trail through the forest was built
recently for joggers.

Seminar on
French higher education system
Opportunities for higher education in Sciences and Technology
Opportunities for higher education in Arts and Social Sciences

Official opening by
YBhg. Dato’ Prof. Dr. Radin Sohadi Radin Omar
Director-General
Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia
and
H.E. Mr. Marc Baréty
Ambassador of France to Malaysia

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