KUCHING: Sarawak Pakatan Harapan is urging the state government to unfreeze land located along the proposed Light Rail Transit (LRT) line since the project has been postponed.
Its chairman Chong Chieng Jen, who is also the state’s DAP chairman, said he had received nearly 50 complaints from landowners whose applications to renew land leases had been rejected.
“In the past two months, many landowners have come forward and raised their worries and concerns that they can’t renew their land leases, which will expire in 10 years’ time,” the deputy minister of domestic trade, cooperatives and consumerism told a press conference at the state DAP headquarters, here, today.
“They have been informed by the Land and Survey Department that their applications (to renew their land leases) will not be approved as their land have been allocated for future development.
“Most of the affected land is located along the proposed LRT line from Serian to Santubong.
“This is a very serious issue as once the landowners fail to renew their land leases, the land will go back to the state government without compensation.
“So, I urge the state government to unfreeze the land and allow the renewal of land leases.
“The chief minister had announced that the project will put on hold. I believe it will be ceased (eventually).
“It would be an injustice to reject the owners’ applications to renew their land leases.”
Earlier this year, Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Abang Openg announced that the state’s LRT system, covering Serian, Samarahan and Santubong, with three lines more than 150km long, was expected to be operational by 2024.
However, he decided to postpone the project to focus on rural development.