KUCHING, May 15: A total of 58 landowners who were affected by the Kampung Sambir Extension Project and Kota Samarahan Extension project received their compensation valued at about RM6 million starting today.
Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said that the state government always sought to pay fair and reasonable compensation to the landowners when the land acquisition is done in accordance with the State Land Code (Chapter 81) and Article 13 of the Federal Constitution.
He said this during the handing over ceremony of the compensation cheques to the villagers from Kampung Sambir in Asajaya, held at the Land and Survey Department Samarahan Division office, today.
“No one shall be deprived of his property except by the law. No law can provide for the compulsory acquisition or use of property without adequate compensation,” he said.
The Youth and Sports Minister also noted that the land, for which the compensation was paid for, was acquired back by the government for the Kampung Sambir Extension Scheme Project.
He explained that the project was to provide residential lots with basic amenities such as road networks, drainage systems, water supply and electricity supply in order to meet growing population demands, at the same time meeting the need of the low-income groups who do not have their own land.
“The Kampung Sambir project has two phases, whereby phase one will have a total of 112 residential lots, three acre of government reserved land, a surau and an open field space. While for phase two, it will have a total of 132 residential lots, together with facilities to accommodate the cottage industries and ‘Lock Up Shop’ that will be developed there.
“Therefore, statements that claim that payment comes at the expense of landowners, that the government is seizing land, making land acquisition without notice and without payment of compensation as alleged by some parties, do not arise at all because the goal of the government is to implement the infrastructure development and public facilities that would benefit the people,” he added.
At the same time, Abdul Karim who is also Asajaya state assemblyman, expressed his gratitude to the chief minister for the approval of the project which would benefit the Kampung Sambir villagers and the surrounding communities.
“Thank you too to the landowners who are involved in this project for their cooperation during the acquisition process,” he said.—DayakDaily
