By Emily Ruran
SERIAN, Feb 24: Landowners receiving compensation under Phase Two of the Serian–Gedong–Samarahan Dual Carriageway Highway project were encouraged to utilise the compensation to strengthen agricultural activities in their respective villages.
Minister for Education, Innovation and Talent Development (MEITD) Dato Sri Roland Sagah Wee Inn said infrastructure development, such as highways, creates broader economic pathways for rural communities by improving connectivity to markets and logistics hubs.
He noted that better road access would enable villagers to move agricultural produce more efficiently while opening opportunities to utilise future port and airport facilities connected to the highway corridor.
“Once the road is completed, transporting agricultural produce will become much easier. The route will connect directly to the future Tanjung Embang Port, allowing produce to be exported more efficiently.
“We will also be able to make use of the airport that will be developed there. That is the advantage for us. What matters is recognising the opportunities provided by the government to uplift our communities,” he said.
Sagah said this when officiating the Phase Two cheque presentation ceremony for the Serian–Gedong–Samarahan Dual Carriageway Highway project (Packages 1A and 1B) at Dewan Serbaguna Kampung Munggu Kopi here today.
The event saw 73 recipients receiving a total of RM6.5 million in compensation under the project.
He emphasised that land acquisition for the project followed existing legal provisions, with compensation carried out in a structured and transparent manner.
“This clearly reflects the government’s continued commitment to ensuring that the land acquisition process is carried out in an orderly, transparent and fair manner,” he added.
The highway project involves upgrading existing roads alongside the construction of new alignments.
Package 1A and 1B extend from Simpang Rayang through Kampung Munggu Kopi, Kampung Tanah Puteh and Kampung Sebemban before ending at Gedong Isthmus.
The planned four-lane dual carriageway with a central Autonomous Rapid Transit (ART) lane forms part of the 45.65km route linking Serian and Samarahan, expected to improve accessibility to services such as schools, healthcare facilities and markets while reducing travel time. — DayakDaily
