PONTIAN – The Johor government has agreed to provide an 80% discount totalling RM1.6 million for the payment of land premiums involving the relocation of Kg Sri Tanjung and Kg Nelayan residents in Benut here.
The matter was announced by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, in his capacity as rural and regional development minister, during his speech at the Pontian Umno Aidilfitri open house in Benut today.
“I had the chance to ‘whisper to the Johor menteri besar from afar’ about the land premium, to provide an 80% discount totaling RM1.6 million. As a gesture of his goodwill, the state government will provide such a discount,” he said in the presence of Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin and Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi.
Johor Umno deputy chief Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan had earlier mentioned the request to reduce the land premium, which was also supported by Benut assemblyman Datuk Seri Hasni Mohammad.
“In Kg Parit Makuaseng, there are 170 homes that are affected by the relocation. Datuk Seri 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 it, so if it could be reduced by 80%, the villagers would only have to pay RM400,000.
“The project is under the Rural and Regional Development Ministry, so the minister has given another allocation, so we can relocate them immediately,” Ahmad said.
As Pontian MP, he also requested RM1.5 million in allocations for the construction of a new mosque in Parit Haji Ariff, Benut that had been immediately approved by the deputy prime minister.
Zahid also took the time to urge continued public support for the unity government to maintain political stability, expressing that the combination of ministers in the federal and state governments would boost foreign investor confidence.
He also took the opportunity to visit the Kg Parit Makuasang development project and listened to a briefing from his ministry’s chief assistant secretary Tengku Muhammad Fariza Engku Muhammad Din.
A total of 170 houses were built for the relocation of flood victims and homeless fishermen in Sg Benut and Sg Pinggan as well as the hardcore poor around Benut.
The development project – involving the construction of semi-detached houses with basic facilities such as roads, water, and electricity supply, as well as sewage treatment systems; and boasting infrastructure including halls, surau, kindergartens, and four units of shops – is built on 30ac of state-owned land, costing RM41.5 million, with construction starting on May 16, 2017 and ending in August last year. – Bernama, April 28, 2023
