JKKK office in Butterworth allegedly ransacked by BN supporters

BUTTERWORTH: A village security and development (JKKK) premise at Bagan Lebai Tahir in Bagan Ajam here was ransacked by a group of people believed to be Barisan Nasional (BN) supporters following the coalition's defeat in the 14th general election.

The missing items are ceiling fans, window panels, furniture, wire fencing and the canopy outside the premise, which was also designated as a community centre for residents living nearby.
It is believed that the items were removed by BN associates on May 10, the day after the election.
The office lot which was ransacked and vandalized was used by former Teluk Air Tawar assemblyman and former state Opposition leader Datuk Jahara Hamid (pix).
During the election, it was used as a BN elections operations centre due to its strategic location.
It is located opposite SMK Dato Onn, SK Bagan Ajam and SMK St Mark, the Penang Port Commission workers quarters and Taman Zamrud as well as Taman Ma.
The premise is also about 200m away from the Royal Malaysian Air Force base here.

The new Teluk Air Tawar assemblyman Mustafa Kamal Ahmad, when contacted said it was wrong to take away things which belonged to the government.
He believed that the premise was vandalised by BN supporters as they were occupying the building prior to the defeat of the coalition.
"The items in the premise were meant for community use and individuals cannot simply remove them by taking advantage of the election and the change of government.
"I have yet to make a police report on the matter, but I am considering my next course of action," he said.
The building was supposed to be handed back to the JKKK in the area upon the completion of the election, but no such event has taken place.
When the JKKK officials went to inspect the premise, they were horrified to see the damage inside.

It is learnt that the land the premise is located on previously belonged to the Penang Regional Development Authority (PERDA), but was sold to a private firm.