By Philip Kiew
repoilerstheborneopost.com

LAWAS: Understanding and acceptance of land acquisition by owners are critical for the government to build access roads and establish public infrastructures and amenities to benefit the overall community.

Second Minister of Resource Planning and Environment Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hassan said the government would compensate land owners in the state for their land at market price.

He said this at the compensation of RM718,000 by Limbang Division Land and Survey Department for several road projects in Lawas district under Bukit Sari constituency.

This included RM219,796.45 for 57 land owners affected by seven road projects in Kampung Dato, Kampung Dato Ulu, Kampung Dato Laut and Kampung Pemukat, Kuala Lawas.

Another batch included RM45,844.80 for 1,01 hectares involving 28 claimants for the second phase of Jalan Kampung Dato.

Also compensated were 18 land owners affected by the Kampung Sualai Road upgrading project (RM21,211.45) and another six for the KampungLuagan-SK Luagan road upgrading project in Sundar (RM100, 445.40) where 1.52 hectares were acquired.

The department also paid RM 51,386.80 to 13 recipients affected by the Choo Lian Road in Sundar, and RM279,286.30 (20 claimants) for the 5,30 hectares acquired in upgrading the Kampung Lubok Abai/ Kampung Ranau Baru Trusan link road.

Tengah stressed that the establishment of roads, clinics, schools and other infrastructures had a value-added reaction in the surrounding area where land value automatically appreciated.

Commending Limbang division Land and Survey Department for their initiative in issuing land title for the remaining land after the acquisition together with the compensation, he said it was pioneering the system in the state.

Limbang Divisional Superintendent Hardi Fadillah thanked all land owners for cooperating and said the compensation paid out and revised land title presented were part of the department’s efforts in delivering the goods.

The presentation of land titles together with the compensation set Limbang apart from its peers, setting a benchmark welcomed by the public as it eliminated the longer period required in the past.

Hardi thanked the minister for presenting the compensation to the recipients, and looked forward to public cooperation with the department to facilitate the implementation of government projects.

Also present were Pemanca Tan Yong H’ng and other community leaders.

(Source: The Borneo Post, 8 February 2012)