KUCHING: The land compensation recipients for the development of Public Transportation and Autonomous Rapid Transit (ART) – Sg Batu Depo project are advised to use the money wisely.
Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan said the money can be used by focusing on the children’s education so that they can continue their studies to the highest level.
This is because, he said, with the world changing and new technologies being introduced, the people need to be equipped with the knowledge and skills of the technology.
“The Premier has talked about the digital economy and artificial intelligence (AI), investors are also using new technologies. So we want our children to have the needed knowledge and skills for this.”
He said this during the Land Compensation Cheque Handover Ceremony for the development of Public Transportation and Autonomous Rapid Transit (ART) – Sg Batu Depo project at the Sarawak Foundation Auditorium here on today (Feb 16).
Following this, Awang Tengah pointed out that the Sarawak government will not take the land of the people involved in people’s projects for free.
On the contrary, he said, it was taken based on the existing provision in the State Land Code Chapter 81 and Article 13 of the Federal Constitution.
“In the State Land Code Chapter 81 and Article 13 of the Federal Constitution, among other things, it states that no one can be deprived of his property except in accordance with the law.
“No law can provide for the taking or use of property by force without adequate compensation,” he explained.
Having said that, he stated that all the land taken will be compensated based on the assessment from the Sarawak Land and Survey Department.
He said, this compensation will be assessed accordingly based on the available crops, built structures if any and the size of the land involved according to the current value.
In the ceremony, Awang Tengah presented 81 cheques totalling RM23mil to 70 recipients here.
