SIBU: A total of 386 landowners affected by the construction of three projects here have received compensation amounting to RM13,634,106.42.
The projects are the Kampung Banyok Extension Scheme, the Proposed Sungai Maaw/ Sungai Merah 132KV Transmission Line Project, and the Upgrading of Sarawak Former Log Roads Project.
Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan advised the public to cooperate in the land acquisition process to ensure its smoothness so that everyone can enjoy the benefits of development.
“We aim to develop the whole of Sarawak, including in the rural areas, so that everyone can enjoy the facilities such as electricity supply, water supply, road connectivity and even telecommunication.
“However, we do face problems where people refuse to cooperate, so, we cannot go in and we cannot develop that place.
“Sometimes, all we need is that little bit of land, but they do not allow us to enter. So, how are we going to develop the area? Hence, everyone’s cooperation is much needed,” he stressed.
The Natural Resources and Urban Development Minister said this at the presentation of land compensation cheques by the Sibu Division Land and Survey Department at Kingwood Hotel here, Wednesday (March 8).
Awang Tengah also stressed that all claimed land would be compensated fairly by the Sarawak government through measurement work approved for Native Customary Rights (NCR) land applications.
“Dialogue sessions are also held with relevant NCR landowners before the survey activities begin.
However, cases that are still in dispute and brought to court would not be surveyed unless the case has been resolved or withdrawn by those involved.
“The government will continue to recognise NCR land as long as there is valid evidence and according to the law,” he said.
Awang Tengah also presented land title deeds to 40 recipients from Ulu Sungai Salim and three recipients from the Batu Burak Igan.
