KUCHING, March 8: The 138th Menteri Besar and Chief Minister’s Meeting (MBKM) today has decided that the State government needs to give priority and expedite the approval of land acquisition applications for federal government projects.
Prime Minister Dato Sri Ismail Sabri Yaakob who chaired the meeting said the Federal government is responsible in providing quality infrastructure facilities for the convenience of Malaysian families to stimulate economic growth.
“The land issue caused delays and indirectly had financial implications for the government,” he said in a statement after the meeting today.
In the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP), the government focuses on high-impact infrastructure projects such as the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project, Gemas-Johor Bahru electric double track, Rapid Transit System (RTS) Project, West Coast Highway (WCE), Central Spine Road and Kota Bharu-Kuala Krai Highway.
Ismail Sabri further said the State government should ensure that project land involving alignments is approved on a reservation basis while the site of an operations center, office or station is approved on an ownership basis.
“At the same time, further discussions will be held on the premium rate charged for land ownership and tax by the State government in accordance with the resolution made by the National Land Council,” he added. — DayakDaily
