Johor Cuts Land Premium By 80 For Relocated Villagers

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Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who is minister for rural and regional development, also approved an allocation of RM1.5 million for a new mosque in Benut.PONTIAN: The Johor state government has agreed to provide an 80% discount on land premiums totalling RM1.6 million involving the relocation of residents in Kampung Sri Tanjung and Kampung Nelayan, Benut.
Deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who is minister for rural and regional development, said he had “whispered from afar” to the Johor menteri besar about the discount.
“As a gesture of his goodwill, the state government will provide such a discount,” he said at Pontian Umno’s Aidilfitri open house. Zahid is president of Umno.
Johor Umno deputy chairman Ahmad Maslan had earlier mentioned about the request to reduce the land premium, which was also supported by Benut assemblyman Hasni Mohammad.
“In Kampung Parit Makuaseng, there are 170 homes that are affected by the relocation. Hasni had previously requested that the land premium be reduced by 80%, as the premium is RM2 million, but the villagers don’t have the means to pay that amount, so if it could be reduced the villagers would only have to pay RM400,000.
“The project is under the rural and regional development ministry, the minister has given another allocation, so we can relocate them immediately,” Ahmad said.
Ahmad, who is Pontian MP, said he had also requested RM1.5 million in allocations for the construction of a new mosque in Parit Haji Ariff, Benut, which was immediately approved by Zahid.
Zahid also visited the Kampung Parit Makuaseng development project where 170 houses were built for the relocation of flood victims and homeless fishermen in Sungai Benut and Sungai Pinggan, as well as for the poor around Benut.
The development project involves the construction of semi-detached houses, and the provision of basic facilities such as roads, water and electricity supply, and sewage treatment system, as well as infrastructure such as halls, suraus, kindergartens and four units of shops. The RM41 million project is on 30 acres of state-owned land. - FMT

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