Kristal New Update 5th July 2009 by Billy Yeo

On 5.7.09, I had a very fruitful meeting with the representatives of the Japanese group., Mr S. Ogura (Chairman of Japanese Assosiation), Mr H Kawase, Mr K Matsuno and Mr G Maeda with Mr Ishihara as the organiser.


The following were discussed and will be put into action.
1. The Japanese community has voiced it's disappointment over the non-action taken by the state and federal government over this matter.
2. Will discuss with the Consul-general of Japan over the lack of protection for it's members as well as the adverse image it has on the Trading and Investment ties it has with Malaysia particularly Penang and Kulim. Meeting was done on the evening during a dinner.
3. Agreeing to cooperate with our local members to Boycott the golf course under the new management if it should reopen unless the Action Committee is approached for discussion.


In return I pledged to also support fully their actions, as we share the same idea. We want our membership to remain Status Quo.


Regards,
Billy Yeo
KGR Action Committee Chairman

Updates - by Bily Yeo

There was a request from the Jabatan Tanah that we remove the caveat on the land for Mr Ong., We have given the permission to Mr. Ong to do what he deems as fit with the advise of our Legal Advisor,. We cannot reveal too much as it may jeopardize the situation.

In the meantime we have together with the Japanese community with a stronger support submitted a Memorandum through the Japanese Consulate to the new PM for further action. With this official protest we hope to GO further.

Our other course of action is also having insiders to check whether there is any irregularities in this deal between the owner and Danaharta which can void the sale.

FYI the committee has actually invited the owner to meet up for dialogue and resolve this matter amicably but they DO NOT even acknowledge us. In their opinion we have no chance so no need to entertain us. Even invitations from the previous BN government and the present state government were ignored. SUCH ARROGANCE. In the event that they do open the golf course but still unwilling to have a dialogue with us, let us all BOYCOTT and inform all our friends to do so. The Golfing community is not BIG so if half of it refuse to support his business, they will be lucky to get 10 paying flights.

There is indication the golf course may reopen as per Kong Wah paper advertisement looking for staff on Sunday 24/5/09. Opening date not known yet.

We will also organize Pickets to create awareness.

Messege from Billy Yeo

ONCE The accounts are audited we will be posting it up.

There has been comments from members regarding the the action taken by the committee. All decisions made are delibrated and consented by majority. Any person or persons who feel they can do a good job are very welcome to take over the post. It has been 2 years and we certainly welcome new blood and ideas and leadership. We have been travelling to and fro the mainland and island for meetings, made a lot of trips to government and relevant as well as wakil rakyats offices all this time at our own expense. It is time other members who have time to take over. We have our own businesses to run too especially in today's trying economy.

Most of the committee members elected are quite senior and do not have personal emails (I don't think there is a program for TeoChew language) so you are welcome to send your email to billyeo@gmail.com and I will pass to the other comittee members.

Thank you.

Billy Yeo
KGR Action Committee Chairman

Feedback from Member

Thanks for the update. Please let us know the email
addresses of Members Action Committee. More interactions
among members and dialogues are needed for
resolution.KL Tan (M10006)

Latest News From KGR Action Committee Chairman - 20th February 2009

As to date, the Action Committee together with Mr Ong Chin San also a member and a land owner has caveated the land using Mr Ong's land. On January 18 we were asked by Land Office to remove the caveat but the committee had a meeting and unanimously agreed to hold on to whatever last remnant of hope we have an extended the caveat at the High Court. This is going to cost us about RM20,000. Our funds available is not suffucient so I would like to appeal to all members who have not paid our RM200 Save Kristal Fund to come forward and help by paying up.
Another course of action we may take is to make make a claim from the new developer for the membership he "inherited" when he took over the golf course from Danaharta. Our lawyer is studying this case. Whatever it is we are going to make life difficult for the new owner.

Thank you.

Billy Yeoh

NST Online - Local News 16/11/2008

Kristal Resort members want their rights

GEORGE TOWN: Some 1,400 Kristal Golf Resort members are appealing for their rights as members to be restored

Action committee secretary Lau Heng Loon said Pengurusan Danaharta Nasional Berhad had failed to inform members of the situation the resort was in up to the moment it was foreclosed.

"As an arm of the government, Danaharta did not inform us of the entire situation," he said yesterday.



Lau said they only found out about the foreclosure from the media and were also not aware of the sale of the land to another company.

The committee's legal adviser, Lee Khai, said the land was originally bought by Suasa Kristal (M) Bhd and, after the financial crisis in 1997, it was charged to the bank.

Lee said Danaharta took over Suasa Kristal's non-performing loan on Aug 2002 and the resort was foreclosed in 2003.

"The land was initially supposed to be sold via open tender but it was sold to a company under a private treaty deal.

"We found the company had paid RM2.1 million as deposit in June, last year, but the property transfer was only completed 15 months later, in October," he said, asking why the company was allowed such a long time to complete the RM21 million sale.

Lee also asked why the members were not given the opportunity to raise the funds to buy the place, instead of it being sold to another company.

"We also wonder why Danaharta was allowed to transfer the land even though there were seven caveats on the land."

Lee noted that the law did not protect golfing members as they had no proprietary rights to the place.

光华日报-北马新闻 16/11/2008

水晶高尔夫度假村会员行动委会 吁政府关注球员基本利益
二零零八年十一月十六日 晚上十一时五十八分


（槟城16日讯）水晶高尔夫度假村会员行动委员会呼吁联邦政府，尤其是财政部长兼下任首相拿督斯里纳吉关注全国高尔夫球俱乐部会员的基本权益，同时要求州政府不要允许及批准发展商将该土地进行商业转换用途的申请。

该行动委员会是在升旗山区国会议员刘镇东及代表律师李凯的陪同下，于周六召开的新闻发布会上如是表示。出席者除了该行动委员会的理事之外，也包括约20名会员代表。

义务总务刘庆伦表示，该俱乐部于去年7月23日起突然关闭后，1400名会员（包括400名外国籍会员）即被禁止进入打球。由于有感此举已剥削会员基本权益，因此在去年9月9日成立以杨世灵为首的行动委员会，处理相关问题。

他指出，国民资产有限公司（Tanaharta National Berhad）以低过其他投标者的价格，即是2100万令吉将该俱乐部的土地（管理及资产）转移给一家私人公司。但是，其他高过2100万令吉的投标却没有获得考虑。而最荒谬的是，该土地面积占287英亩，平均1方尺才卖1令吉67仙。然而，以目前的市场预算，该区土地1公尺约可值5令吉。

“1991年买入的价钱为2500万令吉，17年后卖出的价格（2100万令吉）反而更低，这是为什么？何况，在该土地上也曾进行了5500万令吉的发展与建设，包括羽球场、泳池等。国民资产有限公司是联邦政府在1997年金融风暴时所创立的单位，现在到底是不是站在人民这边？”

30％会员是外国人

刘镇东表示，他于10月23日曾在国会上提出此问题。后于周三也在国会走廊就此事会见第二财长丹斯里诺莫哈末，后者承诺会关注此事。此外，槟首长林冠英也于较早前表示关注。

该行动委员会主席杨世灵指出，30％的会员是外国籍人士，其中以日本人占多数。他们大部分来自国际公司集团，包括Pen Group、 Texchem、 Renesas Semiconductor、Sony、 Fuji Electric 及参与马来西亚第二家园计划者等；而此事件已损坏大马的国际名誉及旅游业发展。

球场已成立14年

他指出，较早前曾向首长政治秘书黄伟益求助，后者协助发信予新接管公司，要求聚集一起商讨此事。惟，新接管公司却觉得没有这个必要。对此，他们感到很失望，也觉得很可惜。

“如果全马约有200所高尔夫球俱乐部各拥有1000名会员，每名会员缴交3万令吉，那么涉及的款项就会高达60亿令吉。因此，我们希望联邦政府严正看待此事件，不要漠视我们的权益。”

据了解，水晶高尔夫度假村是在1994年创设，占地287英亩，拥有18个洞的高尔夫球场。成立至今已有14年，是威南首所高尔夫球场。