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KEPALA BATAS: Legal action will be taken by the Penang Regional Development Authority (Perda) on former Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) researcher Prof Dr Zainal Abidin Abdul Aziz for not settling rental since 2003 amounting to RM105,814.
Perda chairman Datuk Azhar Ibrahim said the action was to be fair to other Perda land renters who also owed rent and had similar action taken against them.
He said besides Dr Zainal Abidin, there were 329 renters who comprised stall operators; small- and medium-industry entrepreneurs; and hotel operators who owed more than RM2 million to Perda.
"If we let him off for not paying rent since 2003 amounting to RM105,814, what about others who face the same problem (of not paying rent).
"Should be compromise?," Azhar told reporters here today when asked to comment on Dr Zainal Abidin's appeal when he asked Perda to allow him to continue his agricultural research on the 12ha piece of land that is slated to have 56 units of hardcore poor (PPRT) housing built on it.
Dr Zainal Abidin, 60, who conducted reasearch on various fruits and has produced seeds for the largest nangka madu (jackfruit) in the world, said he is faced with losses of more than RM16 million due to the court order to vacate the land in Paya Tok Akil, Tasek Gelugor.
The Butterworth Sessions Court order was made two weeks ago after Perda summoned Dr Zainal Abidin for failing to pay the RM105,814.
The 12ha land had been used by Dr Zainal Abidin since the last 10 years for research on tropical fruits including jackfuit, pulasan and guava. Azhar said the legal action by Perda followed procedure and the law. -- Bernama
