Tree house torn down at last amid drama
Do Re Mi fa so la ti do ...down it goes that's the way to go ! All illegal houses and business enterprise built on State land without proper disposal of sewage and rubbish should be torn down irrespective of political affilation . This is to prevent setting a precedence for others having thoughts about setting up illegal businesses and dwellings on beaches . The state govt and the council should now look into the illegal business along the beaches of Batu Ferringhi and the illegal businesses set up along the roadside and kerbs from Tg Tokong to Batu Ferringhi.
By ANN TAN
anntan@thestar.com.my
GEORGE TOWN: The fate of the controversial Do Re Mi tree house cafe in Tanjung Bungah, which had hung in the balance for the last four months, finally came to an end when it was demolished but not without some dramatic moments.
Cafe owner Johar Ismail, his family members and a small group of supporters had gathered at the cafe and there was a brief stand-off when Penang Municipal Council enforcement personnel moved in to cordone off the area at about 9am yesterday.
Johar’s mother-in-law, Maira-bahyah Mior Abdul Aziz, 53, smashed glass bottles and shouted at the enforcement personnel when they brought in a backhoe at 9.40am to start demolising some structures on the ground.
“How can you people be so cruel and destroy our only means to earn a living?” she cried.
Johar’s wife, Norirmawati Kamarul, hurled abusive words and called the enforcement personnel “cowards”.
Timberrr!: Enforcement personnel tearing down the cafe in Tanjung Bungah yesterday. Johar, 34, initially insisted on staying on the top floor of the three-storey cafe with his family and two friends despite being coaxed by two police officers to come down.
They came down at about 10.30am after Penang Malay Chamber of Commerce president Rizal Faris Mohideen Abdul Kader went up to coax them.
“I congratulate Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng for successfully destroying my business after eight years.
“The Tanjung Bungah residents who have been constantly complaining about my tree house cafe can also sleep soundly now,” Johar said sarcastically.
It took about four hours to completely demolish the cafe. Police were present to prevent any untoward incidents. At one point, firefighters were summoned to put out a fire started by the enforcement team to burn furniture and parts of structures that were demolished.
Penang Umno Youth chief Norman Zahalan, who was present with a few of the wing’s members, said it was disappointed that the state government was not being sensitive towards the people.
Two planned demolitions of the premises on Jan 18 and Jan 27 by the North-East District and Land Office, with assistance from the Penang Municipal Council, were called off after Johar pleaded with them to allow him to hold a beach wedding for a relative.
Another, scheduled on May 26, was also postponed when Chamber deputy president Syed Hassan Syed Ali Aidid said there would be discussions with the state government.
Johar had claimed that he spent RM55,000 to build the cafe which was named after the Tan Sri P.Ramlee movie Laksamana Do Re Mi.
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