KOTA SAMARAHAN: The state government will compensate owners whose land was acquired for infrastructure development purposes.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan explained on Thursday (Nov 4) that the land was not taken away for free as compensation would be provided based on the existing provisions in the Sarawak Land Code (SLC) Chapter 81 and Article 13 of the Federal Constitution.
“The government needs to take he land to implement infrastructure and utility projects for the public’s interest and provide direct benefits to the people such as better infrastructure and facilities.
“The government does not take land for free but the land taken is based on the existing provisions in the SLC Chapter 81 and Article 13 of the Federal Constitution,” he said
He was speaking at the presentation ceremony for compensation cheques and Bumiputera Communal Reserve gazette under Section 6 of the Sarawak Land Code and land titles under Section 18 (Residence) at Dewan Seminar Intan Kampus Wilayah Sarawak here.
Awang Tengah pointed out that the use of government land as well as land owned by the people was necessary for the state to implement infrastructure projects such as roads, water and electricity supply and upgrading of drainage systems.
“We can try to minimise the use of the people’s land but the roads that we build may be sitting on a mountain and so on … this should also be taken into consideration,” he added.
He assured that the land acquired by the government would not go to waste and would be fully utilised for the benefit of the people.
“Road construction, for example, will not only facilitate communication, but will also provide an opportunity for the government to implement the facilities needed by the people such as water supply, electricity and so on.
“It also indirectly makes it easier for us to bring our people’s products closer to markets in the urban centres,” he added.
