BINTULU, Oct 20: To achieve a big win in the Jepak by-election, Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) must tackle the Jelutong land issue by making monetary compensation for the land which is currently cleared for the massive housing development project called Jepak Jaya.
To Kampung Jepak resident Saruji Ali (55), this is an issue close to his heart because his family’s 10-acre land at the identified development area, which stretches the huge area from Kampung Jepak to the Bintulu Airport, was handed down by his father.
He said prior to the starting of the development project, the land has always been used by the villagers. And when the government decided to implement the project, it suddenly became State land.
“I am not against development. All I ask is that the land taken by the government for the housing development be compensated,” said Saruji.
He said the Jepak Jaya project affected about 500 landowners, some of whom have built their houses there. As for him, he has planted the land with rubber trees, palm oil and other cash crops such as sugarcane.
The land has been called Jelutong by Kampung Jepak residents because there are many jelutong trees found within the area. Saruji’s father used to collect jelutong latex and sold it to support the education of Saruji and his siblings.
To initiate the first phase of the Jepak Jaya housing project which involves the building of 477 units of houses, Saruji alleged that the jelutong trees and cash crops of the landowners were felled, with houses demolished and residents being chased away, leading to discontent among the landowners.
In response, he predicted that the affected landowners, including himself, may boycott the by-election, if the government is not forth coming with plans for further talks or negotiations.
Saruji, being a self-made businessman, owning the famous Hazzana Mee Udang and furniture workshop, does not think that Jepak Jaya is a feasible project.
“The people here (Kampung Jepak) are mainly farmers and fishermen. How can they afford these new houses which will be sold at RM250,000 upon completion?
“When it is not fishing season, some of them are so poor that they don’t even have RM10. How do you expect them to make monthly instalments for the houses?”
“Furthermore, which bank would give them the loan to buy the houses when they cannot even produce documents showing that they have a regular monthly income?”
He said the Jepak Jaya issue is quite new, and arose not long before the passing of late Jepak assemblyman Datuk Talib Zulpilip. It is his hope that GPS proposed candidate Iskander Turkee would be able to resolve the land issue.
Land for first phase of Jepak Jaya has apparently been cleared. A trip to the said area showed a vast open space and several houses on the fringes.
Further in, which Saruji said is the area (including his land) designated for the second phase of development, more houses can be seen, some of which are well-designed bungalows. — DayakDaily
