Landowners get over RM8 mln compensation for Serian-Gedong-Samarahan highway project

SERIAN (Jan 30): A total of 64 landowners have received over RM8 million in compensation under Phase 1 of the Serian-Gedong-Samarahan Dual Carriageway Highway project.

Minister for Education, Innovation and Talent Development Dato Sri Roland Sagah Wee Inn said the project is expected to be completed within three years.

The first batch of recipients were 49 landowners from Kampung Rayang and 15 claimants from Kampung Sebemban.

Payments for Tanah Puteh would be carried out on a later date.

“Overall, a total of 70 cheques were handed over today to 64 recipients, amounting to RM8,392,133.74,” the Tarat assemblyman said during a cheque handover ceremony in Kampung Rayang.

Sagah said the compensation involved land acquisition for the Serian-Gedong-Samarahan Dual Carriageway Highway project, specifically Packages 1A and 1B.

“Package 1A covers the Rayang junction to Munggu Kopi to Tanah Puteh, spanning 9.72km, while Package 1B runs from the Tanah Puteh junction to the Gedong Isthmus for the Serian sector, covering 8.543km,” he said.

He urged residents who had yet to receive compensation to be patient.

“The handover process will continue and claimants who have not yet received their compensation cheques will be paid in subsequent batches,” he said.

The project is expected to bring significant benefits to villagers along the alignment, particularly in facilitating daily activities such as commuting to work and school, accessing hospitals, as well as transporting agricultural produce.

“On the Samarahan side, there are several hospitals, including the heart hospital and the disease control centre, which will become more accessible to us,” he said.

He praised villagers for their cooperation, noting many landowners had granted approval for contractors to pass through their land even before receiving compensation.

“This is a very encouraging development, and we hope other areas will follow this example, showing that our people are supportive of development,” he said.

He later told reporters that the project is being implemented simultaneously although it falls under both the Serian and Kota Samarahan divisions, as well as involves different agencies such as the Public Works Department, Land and Survey Department, and local residents.

“One positive aspect is that on this side (Serian), a bridge will be built from Kampung Sebemban across to Gedong at Kampung Gumpey.

“Not only that, in the future you will also be able to use the Autonomous Rapid Transit (ART). You will be able to travel from Gedong all the way to Serian and enjoy durians in Serian,” he added.