On Genetic Engineering

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Since the birth of the duplicated sheep "Dolly," genetic engineering (GE) has attracted attention from all levels of society. GE raises questions of religion, ethics, and ecology that are of great concern to many people. I would like to share a little of my understanding of GE, hoping that it will be helpful to everyone here.
What Are Genes?

Genes are the substance within the nucleus of a cell that transmit genetic codes. In human beings and other bio-species, the synthesis of protein and the reproduction of cells and tissue take place according to the genetic blueprint contained in the genes. There are approximately 7,000 to 10,000 kinds of genes of differing sizes and properties in the human body. After several decades of research, people have gained a preliminary understanding of the structure and properties of about 1,500 small genes. However, knowledge of large genes, especially chromosomes, is very limited. The larger the gene, the more difficult it is to determine its structure and properties.

Chromosomes and other genes are composed of DNA. There are four types of nucleotides (DNA building blocks) labeled A, T, G, and C [according to the four types of nitrogenous bases occurring in the nucleotides, namely, adenine, thymine, guanine, and cytosine]. These four types of nucleotides combine in different sequences to form long chains. The sequencing of A, T, G, and C nucleotides is called the primary structure. The twisting of the long chains is called the secondary structure. Pairs of long chains couple together in a double helix structure. The G in one chain couples with the C in another chain, and the T in one chain couples with the A in another chain. A human chromosome can be as long as 3 billion nucleotides. The genetic codes are stored in these DNA sequences.

What Is Genetic Engineering?

Genetic engineering aims to re-arrange the sequence of DNA in gene using artificial methods. To determine the DNA sequence on such a long chain, a high-speed, low-cost method is needed. Unfortunately, the currently available method (gel-electrophoresis) does not satisfy these requirements. It cannot provide sufficient information about the genetic structure. For example, the DNA chain in the gene of E. coli is approximately one million nucleotides long. Its DNA sequence analysis took 12 years. Thus, high-speed determination of DNA sequence in genes is critical to the development of genetics. Without such a technique, it will be impossible to understand the genetic mechanism, and GE will be built on thin ice. Given this predicament, the scientific community, supported by the U.S. Congress has delegated substantial resources to be used in determining gene structure under the auspices of the Human Genome Project (HGP). In addition to improving the gel-electrophoresis method, HGP has also invested a huge amount of capital in supporting the discovery of a new method for DNA analysis. Several new mass-spectroscopic techniques, such as MALDI-TOF (matrix-assisted laser desorption and ionization - time-of-flight mass spectrometer) and FTMS (Fourier transform mass spectrometer), have been developed and applied to analyze the DNA segment. However, these methods run into difficulties when the DNA segment is larger than 200 nucleotides. As the size of the DNA increases, the sensitivity and resolution of the signal greatly decreases and analysis using these methods gradually becomes unreliable. To date this difficulty has not been overcome despite intensive research. What is more, the method of gel-electrophoresis has seen little improvement in recent years. Due to the overall lack of information about gene structure, our knowledge of the genetic mechanism is very limited.

The Current Stage of Genetic Engineering

With every new scientific discovery, there are always those who use it to seek profit. The field of genetics is no exception in this matter. Investors began getting into GE business several years ago. What is the current stage of development of GE? Roughly, it can be seen in three major fields. 1) The determination of DNA sequence in chromosomes and other genes. Work in this field is mainly supported by the U.S. government, which considers long-term development to be of national interest. Many private industrial enterprises are also extensively involved, since the patent owner of such an analytic technique will reap a huge return. Several years ago, there were many reports on developments in this field. The excitement has gradually subsided because scientists have realized the complexity of the problem. This problem is not going to be solved in the near future. There has been very little overall advance in this field during the past several years. 2) Artificial horizontal gene transfer--a synthetic method of gene transfer between different species. Since the structure and function of some small genes are relatively well known, biologists try to transfer these genes to other bio-species to improve their functions. Private enterprises have actively been testing this method on animals and vegetables in order to obtain "super products." Government-supported research institutes mainly use horizontal gene transfer to obtain knowledge about the genetic mechanism. Since the genetic mechanism is a very complicated system, they can mostly conduct blind tests by means of horizontal gene transfer. There are many unknown factors in this field, regardless of whether the method used is direct insertion of genes or simple mixing of genes. The probability of success is very small, and only a few products exist. The possible side effects of these GE experiments are still unclear. There has not been much successful advance in this field. 3) Cloning. This "Dolly" is a sheep genetically duplicated using a complete set of chromosomes from an adult sheep. This success was based on a large number of failures. But scientists have not been able to repeat it. The validity of scientific results is based upon their reproducibility. Since the experiment has not been repeated, many people doubt its validity. About 50% of the scientific community is not convinced by the result. It would be extremely difficult to clone a human being even in the absence of pressure from social objections.

Why We Study Genetic Engineering

What benefit could GE bring to humankind? Some scientists believe that, since genetic codes determine the appearance, personality, health, and aging process of human beings, if that genetic information in the chromosomes could be decoded and the genetic mechanism were understood, we could potentially control and improve our health, quality of life, and the biochemical processes in our bodies. In other words, we could control our own fate. Also, we’d be able to improve the genes of other animals and vegetables so that they could serve humankind better. At first sight, these ideas seem reasonable and attractive. However, careful analysis reveals that they are based upon an incorrect theory--the theory of gene determinism.

Gene Determinism

Gene determinism says that gene structure determines everything about life. This theory is based on an incomplete view of things. It not only denies the mutual interaction between the body and mind, but also neglects the fact that genes survive through mutations. Buddhists know that body and mind are inseparable. They interact and influence each other. The structure and function of chromosomes and genes can change as the mind changes. It would be erroneous to reduce life to its material aspects. A person’s traits and health depend on his/her state of mind and environment as well as on gene structure. Thus the theory of gene determinism is merely a form of materialism and does not reflect reality. Not only a person’s thoughts and actions in the present life, but also his past life history exerts a great influence on his metabolic processes, and his genetic inheritance is only of secondary importance.

Although the chromosomes and genes are the blueprint of protein synthesis, not all parts of such a long chain are used in the synthesis of protein. Generally, only a small segment of the chain is essential. In different organs or under different conditions, different segments are used in synthesis. Protein synthesis and cell reproduction are extremely complicated processes that are determined not by a single DNA chain, but by various other conditions working together. Human mental factors, such as emotions and habits, play an important role in these processes. Sometimes they become the decisive factors. Therefore, it is impossible for GE to fulfill its promise of improved health and quality of life for humankind. A large number of examples in psychology can be used to prove this point.

For instance, last year I met the director of an Institute of Psychology in a certain country, who related the following incident. The Institute had requested that the government provide it with a criminal sentenced to death for use in an experiment. On the day of the execution, they tied the man to a chair and told him that they were going to cut one of his veins and let him bleed to death. They blindfolded him and made a cut on his arm but immediately stopped the blood. They placed a hose that dripped warm water next to his arm, so that the warm water running down his arm felt like blood flowing. Then the psychologist told the man that he had started to bleed...that a third of his blood was gone...that half of his blood was gone... By that time the man’s face had turned ashen. When the man was told that his blood was all gone, his head rolled to one side and he died.

Another erroneous assumption of gene determinism is that the structure of genes rarely or never changes. Scientific research in recent years indicates that the structure of genes is dynamic and subject to change during interaction with the environment. These changes can also be passed on to the next generation. If the gene structure is dynamic, then the design of gene structure becomes insignificant. Given the correlation between gene function and psychological factors as well as the influence of the environment on gene structure, we may conclude that attempts to design or alter gene structure will not achieve the "expected goal." Furthermore, the "expected goal" is only a blind guess since we know so little about the genetic mechanism. Under such circumstances, how can GE bring the benefits it has promised? In fact, it may bring more harm than good. Although genetic engineers have through extensive experimentation invented some GE products such as tomatoes that do not spoil easily, their side effects on human health are unknown at present. When many pesticides were first invented, people didn’t know their detrimental effects either.

The Potential Harm of Genetic Engineering

What harm could GE bring? The main potential harm of GE is associated with artificial horizontal gene transfer experimentation. Horizontal gene transfer occurs commonly in nature. Genes can be exchanged between different bio-species. But the frequency of these natural transfers is limited by the defense systems, i.e. immune systems, of each bio-species. The immune system serves to prevent invasion by harmful foreign genes, viruses, and so forth, so that the bio-species can maintain its characteristic traits and normal metabolism. The GE method of artificial horizontal gene transfer works by penetrating or weakening the immune system and using virulent genes as delivery vehicles. That is, the gene to be transfered is combined with a virulent gene to effect penetration. This method allows harmful virulent genes, especially those with resistance to antibiotics, to become widespead in nature. This results in two severe consequences:

1) The production of virulent genes with multi-resistance to antibiotics will be accelerated. If such virulent genes combine with the genes of harmful viruses to form new viruses, it will be disastrous for humankind.

2) The frequency of horizontal gene transfer will greatly increase. Bio-species rely on their immune systems to limit horizontal gene transfers. If virulent genes with the ability to penetrate immune systems spread widely in nature, the frequency of horizontal gene transfers will inevitably increase. Once genes can freely transfer between species, bio-species start to lose their distinguishing characteristics. The mutant insects producted in GE laboratories are a strong indication of this trend. GE is also a potential threat to the human food supply. GE reduces biodiversity. The nutritional level of our food depends on its diversity. In the long term, GE leads to the destruction of the human food supply. At present there is no evidence that GE food and GE protein is harmless to human health. The possibility of harm cannot be eliminated. To develop potentially harmful food when there is an adequate supply of natural food is not a wise thing to do.

The Venerable Master’s Prediction

The Venerable Master [Hsuan Hua, the late Chinese Zen Patriarch] said early on that the combination of pneumonia and the AIDS virus would kill a large number of people. This prediction is a definite possibility from the point of view of science. For such an event to occur, two conditions must hold:
1) A virus must be transmitted by air.
2) There must be a latency period for the disease (a short latency period would prevent extensive spreading of the disease).
The combination of pneumonia and AIDS satisfies these two conditions. In current GE experiments, a virulent gene similar in structure to the HIV virus is used as the delivery vehicle. Thus, GE greatly increases the possibility of the Master’s prediction coming true.

What Should Our Attitude Be?

Clearly, GE brings more harm than benefit. We should use various channels to influence the direction of research, oppose the cruel treatment of animals used in GE experiments, and oppose the policy of not labeling GE food products. However, care is needed in reading scientific reports. Many scientific reports in the United States have been exaggerated for the sake of competition. It is advisable to observe clearly before offering criticism. On the other hand, there is no need to worry that scientists might soon create a horde of freaks and monsters. The genetic mechanism is an extremely complex process. Genetic engineers will quickly realize their limitations. We still have enough time to avert potential disasters.

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*About the author: Dr. Yifei Zhu is from the city of Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province of China. He graduated from the University of Hangzhou in China and taught there for a few years. After earning his doctorate degree in chemistry from Purdue University in Indiana in1993, he worked for Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee. During the past academic year, he has been doing volunteer teaching in a Buddhist secondary school.

宣化上人预言H1N1

　　


根据一本佛书记载，已圆寂佛教高僧宣化上人早在1992年，就对非典型肺炎有预言，并苦口婆心劝谏世人要警惕新病毒的肆虐。
　　据该书记载，宣化上人1992年8月14日及16日，在美国万佛圣城及洛杉矶金轮圣寺，两度提及这类比爱之病更可怕的“新肺炎病毒”。
　　当时，上人大声疾呼世人要及时警醒这危胁全人类的大危机，并共同发起大悲心，虔诵《大悲咒》，以消弭灾难，转危为安，长保世界和平。
　　以下是宣化上人当时针对新肺炎病毒的部分开示内容：
　　“这种肺炎病一生出来，比爱之病(爱滋病)还厉害。这种病，你两个人握一握手，也会传染到；面对面讲一句话，也会传染到。不但一般人没有办法来救治，就是医生、护士一年之中，在美国死于这种新肺炎病，将近两万人。
　　“没有法子避免，戴口罩也不行，甚至身体一触到，也会传染这种病；不但身体传染，空气里头都会传染。
　　“这病比原子弹还厉害，是瘟疫劫。瘟疫劫来了，不但男人有，女人也多数被传染。
　　“全世界现在一半以上的人，都有这种病菌，所以病一旦爆发时，就像洪水横流似的，排山倒海，无可挡御。
　　“人类遇到这种灾难，要怎么办呢？就要至诚恳切地诵持《大悲咒》，佛说《大悲咒》能治世间8万4000种的病患，现在爱之病及肺炎病，也是其中一部分。
　　“我不是今天讲这些话叫你们害怕，因为不能不再大声疾呼。告诉你们，现在不是太平时代，很危险，朝不保夕，危在顷刻之间。”

《大悲咒》就是大悲心的大咒，可以通天彻地，如果你虔诵《大悲咒》，每天一百零八遍，连 续三年，那时你以《大悲咒》来为人治病，就手到病除。我会讲《大悲咒》的功效，就是希望每个人以《大悲咒》的力量，来挽救世界浩劫，让人们永无灾难，令正法永住世间。

藥師佛真言http://www.ucchusma.net/samanta/bhaisajya/aff/2/aff_18.htm

藥師佛真言

『南謨薄伽伐帝，鞞殺社 窶嚕 薜琉璃 缽喇婆 喝囉闍也 怛陀揭多耶 阿囉喝帝三藐三勃陀耶。怛姪他：

唵 鞞殺逝 鞞殺逝 鞞殺社 三沒揭帝 娑訶！』。

此真言從「嗡」字開始一直到娑婆訶，可以說是最重要的心咒部分，前面的咒文則帶有禮敬、供養、正等覺之意。

請網友從現在開始經常在心中默念，而且要懷著同體大悲之念，將心量放大到涵蓋眾生的程度。若能以這樣的心胸來持誦，將會有不可思議的加持效果。

降伏猪流感，诵持药师佛真言，不可思议！http://www.ericsoo.com/viewthread.php?tid=186651

降伏猪流感，诵持药师佛真言，不可思议！
转贴自>>http://www.ucchusma.net/samanta/bhaisajya/aff/2/aff_18.htm

作者：胡因梦

去年我在北京时，立品共生书院里做指针治疗的陆家鹏大夫曾亲口对我说：“明年是脾土失调年，可能会有大瘟疫，要十分小心！”

如今那句话言犹在耳，媒体上已经在大肆传播全球都得警戒的猪流感问题，这令我不禁对中医背后的宇宙性哲理肃然起敬。

我心里在想，既然中医有办法透过五行生克的道理，来预测人与天地互动的结果，那么就必然有平衡小宇宙和大宇宙的治疗方法，因此这回来势汹汹的猪流感，除了西医仍然在紧急研究的抗病疫苗之外，不妨向陆大夫这样的优秀中医讨教对策。

此外，我在今年初也听到某位高僧预言将有大瘟疫之事，据说他一直在鼓励信众多持诵《药师佛真言》。由于我自己对咒语真言的功效早有体证，所以将《药师咒》全文分享给网友：
药师佛真言

南摩薄伽伐地 披刹舍 拘噜碧琉利
跋拉婆 诃拉舍耶 拉他揭多耶
阿拉诃谛 三藐三普陀耶 拉知他
嗡 披刹室 披刹室 披刹舍
三摩揭谛 娑婆诃
真言从“嗡”字开始一直到娑婆诃，可以说是最重要的心咒部分，前面的咒文则带有礼敬、供养、正等觉之意。

请网友从现在开始经常在心中默念，而且要怀着同体大悲之念，将心量放大到涵盖众生的程度。若能以这样的心胸来持诵，将会有不可思议的加持效果。

宣化上人于1992预言ह1N1

學佛要苟日新、日日新、又日新，一天比一天要有進步，一天比一天要更深入，不然的話，光陰都給空過了。我們人人都知道要持誦〈大悲咒〉，持誦〈楞嚴咒〉；〈大悲咒〉能治一切病，所謂「大悲大咒通地天」，你一念〈大悲咒〉，天堂那兒有記錄，地獄那兒也有記錄，你念的愈多，就愈有靈感。可是要持之以恆，不要今日蓮花，明天牡丹，不能專一，要專一才行，所謂「專一則靈，分歧則蔽。」

　　記得我在東北的時候，有一個村落叫呂家油坊，日本投降後有個瘟疫症，一天之內，鄉下就死幾十口人，十天就死百口人，有一戶家庭十一口人，在三天內，死了十三個人。十一個人怎麼會死十三個人呢？他有個親戚，又有個朋友，因為他有病，來探他病的，想不到，一到這地方就跟著死了，這是很嚴重的瘟疫症。當時我帶了四個小童子，都是十一、二歲的小童子，在這條村的四周圍，誦了一○八遍〈大悲咒〉，這條村的瘟疫症，也就不知道跑到什麼地方去了，那兒的瘟症就斷了，由這我就知道，念〈大悲咒〉的感應是不可思議的。

　　現在已到了末法時代，什麼叫末法呢？就是法到了末梢上，沒有什麼人真正信佛了，信佛的人在那謗佛、謗法、謗僧，這樣就不叫信佛了，這叫信魔。信魔的想來破壞佛法，這樣一來，世界就出現種種怪現象，或者天災，或者人禍，或者瘟疫流行。天災譬如蝗蟲、鬧旱；人禍則無緣無故，飛機失事、火車出軌、汽車撞車，就發生很多人間的禍害；還有地震也是到處都是，令人很恐懼。

　　可是人只知道災難來了很恐懼，就不知道追尋這個根本是從什麼地方來？天災，其實不是天災，天並沒有災，而是人禍，人禍就是自作自受。地震也就是人類好戰爭，脾氣大，殺人無數，你願意死嘛！你願意殺人嘛！好！大家同歸於盡，所以就有地震。然而對於這些惡現象，我們人都不去研究根本在什麼地方？我告訴你們，這些天災人禍地震，種種意外事件，飛機失事、火車出軌、輪船沉海、汽車撞車等等種種的問題，都是人心造成的，人心不古，道德淪亡，所以就有這些怪現象。

　　現在人間最可怕的是這個「同性戀」，同性戀這種行為，叫做違背天地的生理，違背陰陽的造化，違背國家的制度，這種行為是亡國滅種的行為，國要亡了，國而不國；滅種，人種都要斷滅了，你看這些同性，雖然在相戀，但是他們不會生育，不會生育，人種就斷滅了，種穀有穀的種子，種瓜有瓜的種子，種豆有豆的種子，人也有人的種子，人的種子要是壞了，人就要死亡，也都要斷滅了。

　　現在同性戀招來天譴，同性戀他們還不知道，招什麼天譴呢？這個同性戀，一戀；就招來一種怪病。因為陽與陽剋，陰與陰剋，你看吸鐵石有陰陽面，必須要陰陽面才能吸在一起，兩面都是陽，就無法吸在一起；兩面都是陰，也無法吸在一起，由物理上推論，就知道陰陽的道理，是不可偏廢的.

　　《易經》上說：「一陰一陽之謂道，偏陰偏陽之謂疾」。陰陽和合就是道，陰陽不和合就生出了病，所以同性戀就生出了一種愛死病。有人說愛死病發源於非洲，可是它不是發源於非洲，愛死病就是發源於同性戀，一生同性戀這種病，是無藥可治，無法可醫的，醫生也束手無策。

　　愛死病是什麼病呢？它就是一種瘟疫病，這瘟疫病是無藥可治，現在就有人研究，想法子來醫愛死病，這就知其不可為而強為之。勉強治，不單治不好，又生出一種愛死中的愛死，這是什麼呢？就是肺炎病。

　　這種肺炎病一生出來，比愛死病更厲害，這種病兩個人握握手，也會傳染，就連講幾句話也會傳染到。不單一般人沒有辦法治，就是醫生護士在去年一年之中，因為這種新品種的肺炎病，在美國就死了將近兩萬個醫生護士，沒辦法避免，戴口罩也不行，甚至身體一觸到也被傳染，不單身體會傳染，空氣或頭都會傳染這種病。這種病比原子彈還厲害，比氫彈還厲害，所以說這是一個瘟疫劫。

　　瘟疫劫來了，現在不單男人有這種病，女人也多數有這種病；不單女人，就是生下來的小孩，也有這種肺炎病，也有愛死病，你看多可怕！現在全世界計算起來有這種愛死肺炎病，不在少數，就是還在胎中，就己經有這種因，這種病的菌。

　　所以世界的人類就快到末日了，所謂末日就是同歸於盡，一起都沒有了，全世界有一半以上的人都有這種病菌，這種病一旦爆發的時候，就像洪水橫流無可擋禦，沒有人可以擋得住它，人類遇到這種災難該怎麼辦？就要至誠懇切持誦

山埃采金没危害人体???????????

笔者：吴和豪
据报道在6月25日首相署公共投诉局与环境局，卫生部，劳勿金矿公司代表等在关丹开联席会，议决符合所有准则，山埃采金没危害人体。
对于此议决我持有异见。第一为何在关丹开联席会而不是在劳勿。第二即使所谓金矿公司作业达安全水准未必意味着山埃采金没有影响当地人舒适生活，没有给当地人带来不便。
笔者曾在槟城Bayan Lepas一间电镀厂工作5年，也曾嗅过山埃的味道和报纸所报道的苦杏仁类似，而且还会引起喉咙有痰及发痒。即使是在检查仪器显示山埃程度安全的情况下也能嗅到这种味道。因此笔者认为不能单单靠检查仪器来确定公司工厂作业是否合乎操作标准。本人也认为人的嗅觉感宫也是检查仪器了。但时对于我们在工厂的人来说我们已经习惯了这种味道，而且我们也有带防毒的过滤面罩。
固化山埃及液化山埃除非是皮肤直接接触到是不会直接造成伤害。杀伤力最强的是气化的山埃看不到，嗅得到，浓度可用检查仪器或化学方法来检知。
在我离开这工厂几年后，遇到以前的同事时，他们告诉我工厂情况已经大大改进，他们也没有再嗅到山埃的味道了，主要是因为公司投资了很多钱与安全设备，废水处理设备，物料储藏设备。
第三在我工作5年当从未在工厂外附近嗅到山埃的味道。所以我不明白为何练金厂附近居住的居民能够嗅到山埃的味道呢？
武吉公满山埃采金所引起的问题并不只是地方性的问题， 也是全国甚至全球关注的环保问题。据报道练金厂附近的湖水所含的山埃是容许值量(allowable ppm)的400倍。除此之外当地的居民也有投诉当地的空气素质差 而且也有居民投诉有患上山埃所引至的皮肤病。山埃采金事件不但会影响当地的居民也有可能影响巴生流域的居民，因为据说雪兰莪准备向彭亨州买水，而水源距离劳勿只是数公里的距离。而且山埃所引起的污染还会破坏生态系统，影响了我国的声誉。我想纳吉总理提倡的一个马来西亚概念也包括了营造一个健康及有活力的马来西亚社会。
确保住宅区及公众场所的舒适环境不受工厂的作业活动所影响，工厂所排出来的水足够清洁，
生物耗氧量[BOD(Biological Oxygen Demand)]， 化学耗氧量[COD(Chemical Oxygen Demand)] 符合卫生标准及安全指数，不会破坏生态系统是每一间工厂所应尽的社会责任。
我们不能否认采金会为国家经济带来利益，但必须在没有影响该地区的居民的健康情况之下进行。我不是化学或化学工程的权威，而且又离开电镀厂多年又没有与以前的同事联络， 只能靠一些记忆来告诉大家我对山埃的认识，抛砖引玉希望更多有识之士能前来为我们提供更多宝贵的意见。也希望有关当局能做出公平及专业的调查，找出问题的根源及解决方案。

Konflik isu Kampung Buah Pala perlu ditangani segera

Kerajaan Pulau Pinang wajar berbincang dengan pemaju untuk rangka formula pampasan penduduk

"KAMI berharap Ketua Menteri dan kerajaan Pakatan Rakyat membela perkampungan 'High Chaparral' yang berusia 100 tahun seperti dijanjikan." Begitulah suara hati penduduk Kampung Buah Pala yang kini berada di persimpangan, sama ada kekal di kampung yang diwarisi daripada nenek moyang sejak lebih seabad lalu, atau mencari penempatan baru.

Rayuan kira-kira 300 penduduk itu terpampang di atas satu kain pemidang yang tergantung di pintu masuk perkampungan itu, yang kini terus berjuang untuk mempertahankan penempatan berkenaan.

Walaupun undang-undang jelas menunjukkan mereka mesti mengosongkan tanah seluas 2.6 hektar yang dimiliki Koperasi Pegawai Kerajaan Negeri Pulau Pinang sebelum 3 Ogos ini, tetapi 23 keluarga bertekad untuk kekal di situ.



Bagi penduduk, mereka adalah pemilik tanah itu selepas Helen Margaret Brown memberikannya kepada nenek moyang mereka sebelum merdeka, tetapi tanah itu sudah dijual kepada koperasi oleh kerajaan negeri terdahulu pada harga yang lebih rendah daripada nilai pasaran. Lantaran itu mereka tetap dengan pendirian tidak akan berpindah dari perkampungan yang dianggap sebagai satu-satunya kampung tradisi masyarakat India di negeri ini.

Kini penduduk masih menjalani kehidupan seharian seperti biasa walaupun hari-hari terakhir mendiami perkampungan yang dikenali sebagai 'High Chaparral' Pulau Pinang' semakin hampir.

Ahad lalu, mereka mengadakan upacara walakappu iaitu acara tradisi masyarakat India untuk menanti kelahiran bayi. Ia bagi meraikan S Nalani, 30, yang bakal melahirkan bayi sulungnya, yang juga generasi keenam di perkampungan itu.

Suami Nalani, S Kumar, 29, tidak menampakkan wajah risau mengenai nasib masa depan kampung mereka, sebaliknya yakin anak sulungnya yang bakal dilahirkan tidak lama lagi akan dapat menyambut hari jadi pertama tahun depan di kampung itu.

Apapun, menyusuri perkampungan yang terletak di kawasan berbukit di Gelugor itu, secara kasarnya tidaklah menampakkan ia satu perkampungan yang dikatakan kampung warisan yang boleh dibanggakan.

Namun berada di kampung itu lebih tenang dengan kehijauan pokok dan suasana kampung. Apatah lagi, apabila menjelang petang kawanan lembu akan pulang selepas seharian berkeliaran di kawasan hutan berdekatan.

Dengan hampir 200 ekor ternakan khususnya lembu yang dibela oleh penternak di kampung itu, bau hancing air kencing dan tahi lembu yang menyambut 'kedatangan' tetamu ke kampung itu, mungkin sesuatu yang tidak akan ditemui di perkampungan lain di negeri ini.

Tanpa mempersoalkan hak penduduk memperjuangkan kampung yang sudah merakam ribuan kenangan manis, penduduk perlu bersikap rasional dalam menangani kemelut yang dihadapi sekarang, bukannya emosional.

Mereka bukan saja perlu melihat kepada keputusan mahkamah tetapi juga mesti memikirkan masa depan anak cucu tanpa dipengaruhi oleh mana-mana pihak yang cuba mengambil kesempatan untuk menjadi 'hero' dalam isu itu.

Penduduk boleh berusaha melambatkan tindakan 'pengusiran' oleh pemaju dengan menggunakan 'talian hayat', tetapi soalnya sampai bila dan berapa banyak 'talian hayat' yang mereka ada.

Mungkin sudah sampai masanya penduduk memikirkan untuk mengikut jejak langkah 10 keluarga yang sudah menerima pampasan daripada pemaju di antara RM140,000 hingga RM260,000 sebelum ini.

Penduduk juga perlu sedar mereka selama ini diperalatkan oleh ahli politik bagi meraih sokongan pada musim pilihan raya dan dibiarkan terkapai-kapai selepas pilihan raya berlalu.

Mereka perlu bertanya selama mana lagi mahu bertahan di kampung itu yang terletak di tengah kawasan perumahan. Pernahkah penduduk memikirkan soal ternakan mereka yang tidak disenangi jiran bersebelahan.

Dengan lembu berkeliaran sehingga merosakkan harta benda, tiada padang ragut bagi ternakan itu mencari makan, ia boleh menimbulkan kemarahan penduduk kampung lain. Penduduk perlu faham bahawa mereka tidak lagi berada pada tahun awal kemerdekaan atau di pedalaman, tetapi alaf baru dan terletak di sebuah bandar raya.

Pada masa sama, kerajaan negeri juga perlu menunjukkan komitmen untuk membantu penduduk dengan memberi pilihan yang konkrit, bukannya bersikap mencari salah orang lain.

Sama ada kepemimpinan kerajaan negeri terdahulu bersalah atau tidak apabila menjual tanah itu kepada koperasi, ia bukan boleh diputuskan dalam masa sehari dua sedangkan penduduk semakin tersepit.

Sehingga kini, kerajaan negeri belum lagi menawarkan satu alternatif terbaik kepada penduduk walaupun menyedari pilihan yang penduduk adalah keluar dari kampung itu.

Ketua Menteri, Lim Guan Eng, sebelum ini menyatakan penduduk wajar menerima pampasan walaupun beliau menyedari pemaju, Nusmetro Ventures (P) Sdn Bhd tidak perlu berbuat demikian kerana tidak diarahkan oleh mahkamah. Ketua Menteri juga dilaporkan berkata, kerajaan negeri akan 'memastikan' pemaju membayar pampasan kepada penduduk jika mereka berpindah.

Meskipun kerajaan negeri sering membangkitkan soal pampasan, tetapi tiada butiran lanjut diberikan. Kalau betul kerajaan negeri mempunyai perancangan, mereka perlu memperincikan soal pampasan, penempatan sementara bagi penduduk dan rumah kekal.

Pada 2007, koperasi menawarkan rumah berharga RM75,000 dengan keluasan lantai 850 kaki persegi dengan harga diturunkan kepada RM1; subsidi sewa rumah RM750 sebulan selama tiga tahun; bayaran kos perpindahan RM1,000 atau ganti rugi tunai RM90,000 jika penduduk tidak mahu terima tawaran tunai.

Jika tawaran sebelum ini ditolak oleh sebahagian besar penduduk, inikan pula tawaran kerajaan negeri sekarang yang tidak memberikan sebarang butiran. Sudah tentu penduduk tidak berani untuk memberi persetujuan kerana mereka tidak tahu apa bentuk pampasan yang akan diberikan jika setuju berpindah.

Apa salahnya kerajaan negeri berbincang dengan pemaju untuk merangka formula mengenai pampasan yang akan diberikan. Dalam keadaan sekarang, pemaju yang berkeras tidak mahu memberi pampasan kepada penduduk, juga perlu bertolak ansur dan tidak mengabaikan tanggungjawab sosial mereka kerana selagi isu itu tidak diselesaikan, selagi itulah projek yang bernilai RM200 juta di kawasan itu tidak dapat dijalankan.

Apabila sudah ada formula, kerajaan negeri perlu panggil penduduk untuk berbincang dan jelaskan keadaan sebenar mengenai kedudukan tanah berkenaan dari segi undang-undang. Jika mereka memahami keadaan sebenar dan rasional perpindahan itu, tiada sebab untuk penduduk menolak tawaran yang diberikan.

Cetak